I     LIFE  STORIES  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 


CHARLEMAGNE 


HISTORV  I 


LIFE  STORIES  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 


CHARLEMAGNE 


LIFE   STORIES   FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

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IIIARLEMAGNE 

and  Desiderata 


Life  Stories  for  Young  People 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Translated  from  the  German  of 
Ferdinand  Schmidt 

BY 

GEORGE    P.   UPTON 

Author  of  ^^  Musical  Memories,''^  '^  Standard  Operas"  etc. 
Translator  of  ''  Memories y"  ^'  Immensee"  etc. 

WITH   FIVE   ILLUSTRATIONS 


I  .   ;     .  ♦   J  »  J  '  ' 


CHICAGO 

A.  C.  McCLURG   ^   CO. 

1910 


HISTOR^,^ 


Copyright 

A.  C.  McClurg  &  Co. 

1910 

Published  September  24,  1910 


THB  •PLIMPTON  •  PRESS 

[W  .D .0] 
NORWOOD  .  MASS  .U.S.A. 


UNIV.   ^n 

California 


Cransiator'0  ^xttatt 

CHARLEMAGNE,  or  Charles  the  Great,  might 
well  have  been  entitled  Charles  the  Greatest. 
He  was  great  in  war  and  great  in  peace  —  a 
great  conqueror,  great  law-maker,  great  scholar, 
great  organizer,  great  civilizer.  He  subdued  savage 
nations,  introduced  learning,  extended  religion,  en- 
couraged the  arts  and  sciences,  and  established  one 
of  the  mightiest  empires  of  the  olden  times.  All 
the  races  of  Germany,  of  Italy,  and  of  France  were 
welded  by  him  into  one  great  monarchy.  He  main- 
tained and  extended  the  influence  of  Christian  cul- 
ture. A  large  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  the  field, 
and  yet  he  found  time  for  the  political  establish- 
ment and  development  of  a  great  empire,  for  the 
reorganization  of  the  Church,  for  the  promotion  of 
education,  for  the  conservation  of  classic  culture, 
and  for  an  astonishing  display  of  many-sided  activity. 
Gibbon,  the  historian,  says  of  him: 

"The  dignity  of  his  person,  the  length  of  his  reign,  the 
prosperity  of  his  arms,  the  vigor  of  his  government,  and 
the  reverence  of  distant  nations,  distinguish   him  from 

[v] 

255886 


AJ44>i« 


;U 


^■-^     -fjv 


TRA)^J^gl:A*TOR'S    PREFACE 

the  royal  crowd:  and  Europe  dates  a  new  era  from   his 
restoration  of  the  Western  Empire." 

He  was  a  monarch  whose  life  was  characterized 
by  extraordinary  activity  and  energy,  by  nobility 
of  purpose  and  wisdom  in  administration,  and  by 
a  constructive  genius  and  innate  capacity  for  wise 
and  generous  ruling,  which  have  rarely  been  found 
in  "the  royal  crowd."  As  one  of  the  most  conspicu- 
ous figures  in  history,  the  events  of  his  life  as  nar- 
rated in  this  volume  deserve  careful  study  at  the 
hands  of  youth. 

G.  P.  U. 

Chicago,  July  igio. 


VI 


Contents 


Chapter  Page 

I     Ingelheim II 

II     Retrospect 20 

III  Charlemagne  and  Desiderius  ....  30 

IV  The  First  Eleven  Years  of  the  Saxon 

War 45 

V    Wittekind's  Baptism 55 

VI    Thassilo  and  the  Avars 58 

VII    The  Coronation  at  Rome 64 

VIII     Victories  of  Peace 72 

IX    Last  Days  and  Death 91 

Appendix loi 


[vii] 


3[Uu0trattons 

Charlemagne  and  Desiderata      .      .      .  Frontispiece 

Charlemagne,  Charles    Martel,  Clovis,    Pepin 

the  Short 26 

Wittekind's  Submission 56 

Charlemagne  and  Alcuin 78 

Otto  the  Third  in  the  Crypt  of  Charlemagne   .  96 


[ix] 


Cfjarlemagne 


Chapter  I 
Ingelheim 


IT  was  at  Ingelheim  ^  on  the  Rhine  that  Charle- 
magne usually  established  his  court  during  the 
middle  period  of  his  reign.  An  obelisk  upon 
one  of  the  adjacent  heights,  erected  in  1807,  bears 
the  inscription,  ''Charlemagne's  highway."  The 
erection  of  his  palace  at  this  spot  shows  his  keen 
appreciation  of  its  natural  beauty.  The  view  from 
these  heights  toward  the  Rhine,  Johannisberg,^  and 
the  Rheingau,'  taking  in  a  blooming,  fruitful  valley, 
is  incomparably  fine.  In  one  of  the  descriptions  of 
the  vicinity,  it  is  related  that  Charlemagne  was  the 
first  Prankish  ruler  who  built  in  the  grand  style. 
It  says: 

"A  great  admirer  of  the  monuments  of  Greek  and 
Roman  architecture,  Charlemagne  was  not  satisfied  with 

^  Ingelheim  is  a  small  town  in  Hesse,  eight  miles  west  of  Mainz. 

2  Johannisberg  is  a  village  near  Wiesbaden,  famous  for  its  wine. 

3  The  Rheingau   is  a  district  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Rhine,  also 
famous  for  its  vineyards. 

[II] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


the  simplicity  of  his  ancestors,  and  sought  to  combine 
the  useful  and  the  beautiful,  the  comfortable  and  the 
artistic.  He  built  not  merely  as  the  owner,  but  like  a 
king.  He  selected  one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  on 
the  heights  of  Rheingau  for  the  palace  of  Ingelheim. 
The  broad  river,  enclosing  numerous  islands  in  its  strong 
arms,  is  visible  throughout  its  entire  course  from  the 
bend  where  it  enters  Rheingau,  below  Mainz,  to  the  point 
where  it  plunges  into  the  dark  abyss  of  Bingerloch.  The 
smiling  meadows  along  its  banks  at  the  foot  of  vine-clad 
hillsides  spread  out  like  a  charming  panorama." 

The  palace  itself  is  described  by  contemporaries 
as  a  wonder  of  art,  transplanted  as  if  by  magic  from 
the  Italian  Ravenna  to  the  banks  of  the  Rhine. 
Charlemagne  secured  the  hundred  marble  and  granite 
columns  upon  which  the  structure  rests,  as  well  as 
the  mural  decorations  of  the  interior,  through  the 
favor  of  the  Pope.  Barbarian  opulence  in  buildings 
was  usually  displayed  in  the  lavish  use  of  gold  and 
silver,  and  artistic  effect  was  sought  for  in  brilliant 
metallic  shimmer.  But  Charlemagne  employed  gold 
and  silver  only  for  the  decoration  of  that  beautiful 
work  of  art  —  the  reproduction  of  the  old  palace  at 
Ravenna  upon  the  Ingelheim  heights  —  a  conspicu- 
ous evidence  of  that  great  change  in  times  and  cus- 
toms by  which  not  only  the  abode,  but  eventually 
[12] 


INGELHEIM 


the  title  and  sceptre,  of  the  Caesars  came  into  the 
possession  of  a  German  sovereign. 

Contemporaneous  descriptions  of  the  personality 
of  Charlemagne  have  also  been  preserved.  Accord- 
ing to  the  chronicles  of  Eginhard,  he  was  large  and 
symmetrical  of  body  and  stood  about  seven  feet 
high.  He  had  full,  bright  eyes,  a  strong  nose,  beau- 
tiful hair,  and  a  frank,  open  countenance.  Whether 
sitting  or  standing,  he  inspired  reverence  by  his 
dignity.  He  was  often  upon  horseback  in  war  or 
the  chase.  He  loved  bathing  as  passionately  as  the 
chase,  and  often  buffeted  the  green  waves  of  the 
Rhine  with  his  strong  arms,  but  he  was  fonder  of 
the  warm  mineral  baths  of  Aachen  ^  (Aix-la-Chapelle) 
than  of  the  river  water. 

According  to  the  Eginhard  chronicles  also,  Charle- 
magne usually  wore  the  Prankish  costume,  which  is 
thus  described  in  a  chronicle  at  Saint  GalP: 

"The  Prankish  costume  consisted  of  shoes,  set  off  with 
gold  adornments  fastened  by  scarlet  bands  about  the  legs, 
and  flaxen  hose  of  the  same  color,  figured  in  a  most  skil- 
ful manner.     Then  came  the  inner  coat  of  bright  canvas 

1  Aachen  is  the  German  name  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  famous  for  its 
baths  and  the  Cathedral  founded  by  Charlemagne,  where  his  marble 
throne  is  preserved. 

"^  A  canton  of  Switzerland,  which  was  once  subject  to  the  monastery 
of  Saint  Gall. 


13] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


material,  shoulder  belt,  and  sword.  The  remaining  detail 
of  the  costume  was  a  gray  or  blue  four-cornered  mantle, 
doubled  and  so  disposed  that  when  worn  over  the  shoulder 
it  fell  to  the  feet  before  and  behind,  but  barely  covered 
the  knees  on  the  sides.  A  staff  was  carried  in  the  right 
hand,  made  of  a  sapling  with  symmetrical  knobs,  and 
with  a  handle  of  gold  or  silver  finely  wrought.  It  was  at 
once  beautiful,  strong,  and  cruel.  The  mantle  was  made 
of  a  thick  woollen  stuif  called  *  Frisian'  in  the  northern 
Netherlands." 

Such  was  the  costume  generally  worn  by  the 
Emperor.  In  winter,  however,  the  chronicle  says 
that  he  protected  his  shoulders  and  breast  with  an 
outer  garment  of  otter  and  marten  skins.  He  dis- 
liked foreign  dress,  and  wore  it  only  once  or  twice 
in  Rome  at  the  request  of  the  Pope.  He  carried  a 
sword  at  his  side  continuously  with  a  golden  hilt 
and  belt.  Now  and  then  he  made  use  of  one  set 
with  jewels,  but  only  upon  ceremonious  occasions, 
or  when  receiving  embassies.  At  the  high  festivals 
he  wore  a  gold-embroidered  dress,  shoes  set  with 
gems,  a  mantle  fastened  with  a  golden  clasp,  and  a 
golden,  jewelled  crown.  From  another  narrative  of 
events  in  the  times  of  Charlemagne,  we  quote  the 
following : 

"Although  the  Franks  were  excellent  riders  and  gen- 

[14] 


INGELHEIM 


erally  fought  on  horseback,  they  did  not  participate  in 
tournaments,  although  the  principal  feats  of  the  tourna- 
ment were  conspicuous  for  the  exercises  which  the  young 
warriors  enjoyed  practising.  The  really  grand  occasions 
of  the  Franks  were  their  religious  and  state  festivals, 
where  they  displayed  their  fondness  for  splendor  and 
churchly  pomp.  The  brilliancy  of  the  state  festivals,  to 
which  Charlemagne  summoned  representatives  from  far 
and  near,  was  enhanced  by  the  presence  of  the  monarch 
seated  upon  his  high  and  gorgeous  throne.  A  blue  mantle 
covered  his  shoulders,  and  upon  his  head  he  wore  a  reful- 
gent diadem.  His  right  hand  held  a  golden  sceptre. 
His  spouse  wore  a  crown  above  her  veil,  which,  like  her 
dress  and  those  of  the  court  ladies,  glittered  with  pearls, 
rubies,  diamonds,  and  other  costly  gems,  procured  in  trade 
or  taken  as  spoils  of  war.  The  dukes,  counts,  and  other 
nobles  surrounding  the  throne  wore  girdles  adorned  with 
gold,  silver,  and  jewels  from  the  Orient.  Their  fur- 
trimmed  mantles  suggested  the  habits  of  their  fathers 
and  the  experiences  of  the  forests.  Palace  functionaries 
stood  back  of  the  Emperor;  heralds  threw  gold  pieces  to 
the  crowd;  and  musicians  sang  and  poets  recited  hymns 
in  honor  of  the  Frankish  heroes.  Festivals  of  this  kind 
lasted  several  days.  The  guests  at  a  signal  from  the  horji 
mounted  their  horses  to  hunt  boars  and  buffaloes,  which 
were  abundant  in  those  days  —  a  pastime  which  called  for 
impetuous  courage,  as  it  was  attended  by  great  danger. 
As  gentler  sport  they  fished  and  hunted  with  falcons  and 

[IS] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


other  birds  of  prey.  Still  other  sources  of  pleasure  were 
ball  games  and  chess  contests.  In  Charlemagne's  time 
the  Franks  were  passionately  devoted  to  both,  but  the 
Emperor  cared  little  for  such  sports  and  rarely  played 
chess,  which  seemed  to  him  merely  a  pleasant  way  of  pass- 
ing time,  which  to  him  was  of  the  highest  importance  and 
too  valuable  to  be  wasted.  The  meals  in  the  homes  of 
the  wealthy  consisted  of  three  courses:  the  first,  a  salad  of 
mallows  or  hops,  which  were  considered  as  appetizers  and 
aids  to  digestion;  the  second,  plain  bread  and  pork  or 
venison;  and  the  third,  pastries  and  fruit.  Wine  was 
rarely  used,  and  consequently  there  were  few  displays  of 
bad  passions.  The  common  beverages  were  beer  and 
mead.  Poor  families  and  even  those  fairly  well  off  ate 
turnips,  lentils,  beans,  and  other  vegetables,  and  upon 
festive  occasions  a  goose  and  some  kind  of  pastry.  How- 
ever great  the  wealth  or  high  the  rank,  the  utmost  impor- 
tance was  attached  to  the  hair  and  beard,  which  were 
considered  indications  of  strength  and  courage — qualities 
which  commanded  respect  at  that  time.  The  grandees 
exchanged  a  hair  as  a  sign  of  mutual  agreement.  A 
promise  was  often  sealed  by  touching  the  beard.  A 
debtor  who  could  not  pay  was  considered  the  slave  of 
his  creditor  and  tendered  him  the  shears  with  which  to 
cut  his  beard.  If  a  young  warrior  was  taken  prisoner 
by  one  of  the  barbarians  and  doomed  to  death,  he  would 
beseech  his  captor  not  to  soil  his  hair  with  blood  or  allow 
a  slave  to  touch  it.     Agreements  were  annulled  by  break- 

[i6] 


INGELHEIM 


ing  a  straw.  Hospitality  was  regarded  as  a  sacred  rite, 
and  guests  were  treated  with  almost  religious  reverence. 
The  household  furniture  was  simple.  The  walls  of  the 
rooms  were  covered  with  painted  and  gilded  leather,  and 
the  floors  were  covered  with  straw  mats,  woven  by  the 
women  of  the  house.  Except  upon  festival  days,  when 
sumptuous  display  was  expected,  there  was  the  utmost 
simplicity  both  in  the  homes  of  private  persons  and  at 
the  Court  of  Charlemagne." 

Charlemagne's  wife  and  daughters  took  an  active 
part  in  the  household  duties.  The  daughters  learned 
to  spin  and  weave  when  they  were  quite  young,  and 
Charlemagne  much  preferred  the  garments  which 
they  made.  Angilbert,  a  scholarly  friend  of  the 
Emperor,  has  left  a  description  of  the  palace  at 
Ingelheim  as  well  as  of  a  hunting  party  in  which  the 
Emperor's  spouse,  Lindgard,  and  the  sons,  Ca'W  and 
Pepin,  figure.     He  says: 

"The  Emperor's  charming  wife,  Lindgard,  enters  the 
courtyard  followed  by  a  numerous  train.  Her  cheeks 
vie  in  tint  and  glitter  with  the  roses,  and  her  hair  with 
the  shimmer  of  a  purple  robe.  Her  brow  is  bound  with  a 
purple  fillet,  jewels  sparkle  on  her  neck,  and  a  golden 
crown  glitters  on  her  head.  As  she  enters  with  her  ladies, 
courtiers  make  way  to  her,  right  and  left.  She  mounts 
her  horse,  which  is  brought  to  her,  and  beams  with  royal 

[17] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


dignity  upon  the  crowd  of  nobles  surrounding  her  two 
sons,  Carl  and  Pepin.  The  one  who  bears  his  father's 
name  resembles  him  in  figure,  countenance,  and  spirit. 
He  is  in  full  armor  —  a  valiant  warrior,  tried  and  true. 
Following  the  queen  and  princes,  the  hunters  crowd 
through  the  gates  accompanied  by  a  tumult  of  sound 
from  hound  bells  and  horns.  Next  appear  the  princesses 
with  their  retinue.  Rotrud  rides  at  their  head,  calm  of 
face  and  proud  in  bearing.  Her  blonde  hair  is  fastened 
by  a  purple  band,  and  a  little  gold  crown  gleams  upon 
her  brow.  Next,  Bertha,  the  image  of  her  father  in  face, 
voice,  and  disposition.  Her  blonde  hair  is  intertwined 
with  gold  cords  and  wreathed  with  a  diadem.  A  marten- 
skin  covers  her  snowy  neck,  and  the  seams  of  her  tightly 
fitting  cloak  are  set  with  glittering  jewels.  Next  rides 
Gisela,  dazzlingly  white  and  beautiful.  Purple  threads 
are  interwoven  in  the  delicate  texture  of  her  veil.  Sil- 
vern gleam  her  hands,  golden  her  brows,  her  eyes  shine 
like  the  sun,  and  she  manages  her  fiery  steed  with  per- 
fect ease.  Ruodhaid  on  her  gracefully  ambling  palfrey 
follows.  Hair,  neck,  and  feet  glow  with  jewelled  orna- 
ments, and  a  silken  mantle,  fastened  at  the  breast  with 
gold  clasps,  covers  her  shoulders.  Then  follows  Theo- 
dora, she  of  the  rosy  face  and  gold-red  hair,  wearing  a 
necklace  of  emeralds  and  a  gorgeous  mantle.  Hiltrud, 
last  of  the  sisters,  appears  and,  after  glancing  around 
majestically,  turns  her  steed  in  the  direction  of  the  forest 
whose  dark  recesses  invite  this  imposing  expedition." 

[i8] 


INGELHEIM 


Where  was  Charlemagne,  master  of  the  house  and 
the  Empire,  as  the  hunting  party  set  out? — gazing 
at  the  animated  spectacle  from  the  palace  balcony, 
or  in  the  stillness  of  his  apartment  studying  serious 
problems  upon  which  depended  the  weal  or  woe  of 
his  empire? 

The  solution  of  these  problems  was  a  weighty 
matter.  He  had  inherited  not  honors  alone,  but 
burdens  which  needed  a  giant's  strength  to  carry. 
His  life  was  a  continuous  struggle  with  forces 
which  hurled  themselves  against  his  empire.  To 
understand  his  situation  we  must  consider  the  cir- 
cumstances which  confronted  him  when  the  crown 
of  the  Franks  became  his  heritage.  We  must  revert 
to  the  past  and  review  the  history  of  the  Empire 
down  to  his  accession,  that  we  may  clearly  under- 
stand what  this  hero  and  sovereign  coji tended 
against  and  accomplished. 


[19 


Chapti 


'er  II 

Retrospect 


THE  Franks,  inhabiting  both  sides  of  the  Rhine, 
held  a  leading  position  among  the  German 
tribes  about  the  middle  of  the  fifth  century, 
three  hundred  years  before  the  time  of  Charlemagne. 
They  invaded  Gaul  from  the  north  and  subdued 
that  part  of  it  occupied  by  the  Alemanni  ^  and  Bur- 
gundians,^  and  securely  established  themselves  in  the 
eastern  and  southeastern  parts  of  the  country, 
southern  Gaul  being  occupied  by  the  West  Goths.^ 
About  this  period  Clovis  ^  made  his  appearance 
among  the  Franks.  He  was  brave  to  the  extreme 
of  hardihood  and  at  the  same  time  thoroughly  un- 
principled. He  ruled  over  one  family^  of  Franks, 
relatives   of   his   being   chiefs   of  the   others.     The 

*  The  Alemanni  were  a  German  race  which  occupied  the  region  from 
the  Main  to  the  Danube.  ^  • 

2  The  Burgundians  were  also  a  German  race  which  invaded  Gaul 
and  founded  the  Kingdom  of  Burgundy. 

3  The  West  Goths  are  usually  called  Visigoths. 

*  Clovis,  founder  of  the  Merovingian  line,  was  born  about  465  and 
was  the  son  of  Childeric.  He  married  the  Christian  princess  Clotilde 
in  493  and,  after  victories  over  the  Alemanni  and  Burgundians,  estab- 
lished his  court  in  Paris  in  507.     He  died  in  511.  • 

5 The  word  "family,"  as  used  in  this  translation,  signifies  "tribe." 

[20] 


RETROSPECT 


family  ancestor  of  the  Franks  was  Merovseus,  from 
whom  the  Merovingians  derived  their  name. 

Notwithstanding  their  relationship,  the  Frank 
chiefs  were  in  continual  strife  with  each  other,  but 
Clovis  at  last  secured  a  kind  of  sovereignty  over  all 
the  families  and  forced  his  relations  to  furnish  him 
with  warriors.  As  soon  as  this  was  accomplished,  he 
set  about  making  his  power  absolute  and  suppressing 
their  mutual  quarrels,  as  he  was  determined  they 
should  assist  him  in  further  invasions  of  Gaul.  The 
only  remnant  of  Roman  power  left  in  Gaul  (that 
part  of  it  lying  between  the  Seine  and  the  Loire) 
still  maintained  its  political  independence.  It  was 
against  this  region,  which  was  under  the  rule  of  the 
Roman  patrician  Syagrius,  that  Clovis  next  directed 
his  operations.  He  provoked  him  to  war,  defeated 
him,  and  forced  the  West  Goth  King,  Alaric  the  Sec- 
ond (who  was  ultimately  slain  in  battle  by  Clovis), 
with  whom  Syagrius  sought  shelter,  to  give  him  up. 
He  then  strangled  him  in  prison. 

Clovis  next  made  war  against  the  Burgundians, 
who,  as  has  been  said,  occupied  the  southeastern 
part  of  Gaul  and  were  ruled  at  that  time  by  two 
brothers,  Gundobald  and  Godegisel.  Both  fell  vic- 
tims to  his  cruelty.  One  of  the  dead  brothers  left 
a  daughter  Clotilde,  for  whose  hand  Clovis  appealed 

[21] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


to.  her  uncle,  the  Burgundian  chief.  The  uncle  did 
not  dare  refuse  Clovis's  request,  and  Clotilde,  the 
Christian,  became  his  wife.  She  immediately  set 
about  the  task  of  converting  him,  but  did  not  succeed 
at  that  time.  His  purpose  was  to  secure  her  inheri- 
tance, not  her  religious  faith. 

Before  concluding  final  arrangements  with  the 
Burgundians  another  problem  presented  itself  for 
settlement.  The  Alemanni  were  threatening  Sieg- 
bert,  one  of  his  relations.  This  gave  him  a  sufficient 
pretext  for  drawing  his  sword  against  them.  A 
decisive  battle  was  fought  at  Toul.^  It  was  a 
bloody  encounter,  and  victory  at  first  appeared  to 
favor  the  Alemanni.  Thereupon,  thinking  of  Clo- 
tilde's  appeals  to  him,  he  invoked  the  Christians' 
God  before  his  whole  army  and  promised  to  become 
a  Christian  if  he  won  the  victory.  Thereupon  he 
massed  his  forces  and  hurled  them  upon  the  enemy 
with  such  fierceness  that  the  onset  was  irresistible. 
The  Alemanni  were  decimated,  and  Clovis  occupied 
the  entire  region  between  the  Neckar  and  Lahn 
and  forced  it  to  supply  warriors  to  make  good  his 
losses.  In  the  same  year  he  and  three  thousand  of 
his  followers  were  baptized  at  Rheims. 

1  Toul  is  on  the  Moselle  River  in  France.  It  is  an  important  fortress 
and  strategic  point.  It  was  annexed  to  France  in  1648  and  is  one  of  the 
towns  besieged  by  the  Germans  in  the  war  of  1870. 

[22] 


RETROSPECT 


The  German  chiefs  who  had  embraced  Chris- 
tianity at  an  earlier  period  had  given  their  adhesion 
to  the  Arian  confession,  but  Clovis  gave  his  to  the 
Catholic.  There  was  great  rejoicing  in  Rome,  and 
the  Pope  conferred  upon  him  the  title  of  "All  Chris- 
tian King,"  which  title  also  descended  to  his  Prank- 
ish successors.  Later  the  clergy  spread  the  report 
abroad  that  a  miracle  took  place  at  the  time  of 
Clovis's  baptism.  It  was  said  that  there  was  no 
consecrated  oil  at  hand.  As  the  bishop  stood  help- 
less at  the  altar  a  white  dove  suddenly  flew  down 
with  a  flask  of  oil  in  its  beak,  a  sign  that  his  name 
had  been  inscribed  in  heaven  and  that  his  conver- 
sion had  given  delight  to  God  and  the  angels.  To 
satisfy  the  sceptical,  the  wonderful  flask  was  pre- 
served in  the  Cathedral  of  Rheims,  and  the  precious 
contents  were  not  diminished,  though  it  was  used 
whenever  the  rite  was  repeated.  In  fact  the  flask 
was  used  at  every  coronation  down  to  the  close  of 
the  last  century.  The  story  of  its  origin  spread 
and  is  believed  by  some  even  to  this  day.  Neither 
baptism,  nor  anointing,  nor  papal  titles,  however, 
could  change  the  deceitful,  truculent,  bloodthirsty 
nature  of  Clovis.  He  next  turned  against  his  wife's 
Burgundian  relatives,  who  were  subjugated  and  com- 
pelled to  pay  tribute  to  him. 

[23] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Clovis  was  now  master  of  Gaul  even  to  the  south- 
ern part  of  it,  which  had  belonged  to  the  West  Goths 
who  a  century  earlier,  under  the  leadership  of  Ataulf, 
had  taken  possession  of  the  country  north  and  south 
of  the  Pyrenees  (southern  Gaul  and  northern  Spain). 
As  there  was  no  political  pretext  for  making  war 
upon  the  West  Goths  he  found  a'  religious  one.  The 
"All  Christian"  King  Clovis  assembled  the  bishops 
and  secular  leaders  and  thus  addressed  them: 

"Shall  the  West  Goth  heretics  occupy  that  beau- 
tiful country  and  persecute  our  Catholic  brethren? 
Arise  in  the  name  of  our  faith  and  conquer  them!" 

Clovis  had  now  openly  declared  his  adherence  to 
the  Catholic  faith,  and  there  was  fresh  rejoicing  in 
Rome  when  it  was  known  that  he  had  undertaken  a 
crusade  against  the  West  Goths.  He  was  victorious 
in  a  battle  with  Alaric  the  Second,  whom  he  slew 
with  his  own  hand,  but  was  prevented  by  Theodoric 
the  Great,^  father-in-law  of  Alaric,  from  subjugating 
the  entire  West-Gothic  kingdom.  He  had  to  be 
content  with  the  sovereignty  of  the  region  between 
the  Loire  and  the  Garonne  (Provence)  as  part  of 
the  Prankish  Empire. 

Clovis's  career  was  continually  marked  by  injus- 

^  Theodoric  the  Great  invaded  Italy  in  493,  became  sole  ruler  there, 
and  founded  the  East-Gothic  power. 

[24] 


RETROSPECT 


tice,  cruelty,  and  bloodshed.  One  outrage  rapidly 
followed  another.  He  next  sought  to  add  the  pos- 
sessions of  his  Prankish  relatives  to  his  kingdom. 
Siegbert,  with  whom  he  had  fought  against  the 
Alemanni,  was  a  cripple  because  of  a  wound  received 
in  the  battle  of  Toul.  Clovis  sent  word  to  his  son 
that  his  father  had  lived  too  long,  and  that  if  he 
were  out  of  the  way  they  might  be  friends.  The 
dissolute  son  had  his  father  murdered,  and  sent  this 
message  to  Clovis:  "My  father  is  no  longer  living. 
Send  messengers  to  me,  and  they  shall  take  what- 
ever you  need  from  my  treasures."  Clovis  sent  his 
messengers,  but  upon  another  errand.  The  young 
prince  led  them  to  the  treasure  chamber  and  they 
assassinated  him  there. 

Clovis  next  assumed  the  role  of  avenger  of  Prank- 
ish chiefs  killed  by  Siegbert.  He  summoned  the 
heads  of  the  Prankish  families  and  brought  such 
inducements  to  bear  that  they  voluntarily  acknowl- 
edged his  authority  and  accepted  his  sovereignty. 
He  secretly  inspired  an  uprising  against  one  rela- 
tive, who  had  proved  too  obstinate;  and  when  he 
was  brought  before  him  by  his  own  people  in  chains, 
Clovis  exclaimed:  "What!  are  you  not  ashamed  to 
appear  before  me  in  chains  and  to  disgrace  our 
princely  race.^*"     With  these  words  he  cut  off   his 

[2S] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


head  with  a  battle-axe.  He  also  killed  his  victim's 
brother  because  he  dared  to  protest.  Sooner  or 
later  all  his  relatives  who  wavered  in  allegiance 
suffered  from  his  wrath.  Then  he  began  to  grow 
anxious  lest  some  one  of  the  family  might  have  been 
spared.  He  hypocritically  lamented  that  he  had 
not  a  relative  he  could  trust.  He  instituted  a  search, 
but  all  inquiries  were  useless.  He  was  in  undisputed 
possession  of  a  kingdom  which  extended  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Rhine  to  Switzerland  on  the  south, 
to  the  Atlantic  ocean  on  the  west,  and  almost  to 
the  Pyrenees  on  the  southwest.  He  thought  him- 
self secure  against  all  enemies,  but  in  his  forty- 
fourth  year  death  overtook  him. 

Four  sons  inherited  his  kingdom,  but  there  was 
no  peace  among  them  or  any  of  their  descendants 
during  the  next  two  centuries.  Treachery,  assassi- 
nation, and  poison  were  the  agencies  employed  by 
the  male  members  of  the  princely  house  to  gain 
their  end.  Petty  jealousy,  envy,  and  revenge  drove 
their  wives  to  crimes  of  the  worst  description. 
Simplicity  of  customs  disappeared  from  court  life. 
Roman  civilization  accomplished  its  fatal  work.  The 
once  princely  Merovingian  race  was  degenerated  by 
physical  and  spiritual  weakness. 

The  result  of  all  this  was  a  change  in  governmental 

[26] 


MART EL 


\EPIN    THE    SHORT 


c 


LOVIS 


RETROSPECT 


relations.  Before  the  close  of  the  sixth  century  the 
weak  Merovingians  relinquished  the  responsibilities 
of  rule  to  the  mayor  of  the  palace.^  Among  those 
who  filled  the  position,  Pepin  of  Landen,  the  founder 
of  the  Pepin  family  afterwards  known  as  Carolin- 
gians  or  Carlovingians,  was  conspicuous.  That  che 
Prankish  kingdom,  which  included  also  Burgundy 
and  Thuringia,  escaped  dissolution  was  entirely  due 
to  this  powerful  Pepin  family.  Subsequently  Pepin 
of  Heristal,  a  member  of  the  same  family,  rose  to 
the  honor  of  leadership.  After  many  distinguished 
achievements,  his  son  Charles,  who  was  called  Charles 
Martel,  or  "the  Hammer,"  because  of  his  victory 
over  the  Moors  in  732,  succeeded  him.  The  Prank- 
ish kingdom,  as  well  as  the  German  Christian  world, 
was  saved  by  him  from  a  great  disaster  at  the  hands 
of  the  Moors,  who  twenty-one  years  later  (711) 
overthrew  the  power  of  the  West  Goths  in  Spain 
and  established  themselves  there. 

Another  Pepin,  called  "the  Short,"  by  reason  of 
his  low  stature,  succeeded  Charles  Martel.  The 
enemies  of  the  country  —  the  Saxons  particularly  — 
felt  the  weight  of  his  power.  An  enmity  of  long 
standing  existed  between  the  Saxons  and  the  Franks, 

^  The  mayor  of  the  palace  was  an  official  having  great  authority  in 
the  court.  He  was  elected  by  the  chiefs  and  acted  almost  independently 
of  his  master. 


27] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


and  they  had  often  met  in  fierce  encounters.  It  is 
hard  to  say  which  side  was  to  blame,  but  it  is  certain 
that  the  Saxons,  especially  after  the  Franks  had 
been  Christianized,  often  invaded  the  country  of  the 
latter,  and  that  the  war  which  Pepin  waged  against 
them  was  to  that  extent  a  just  one.  He  at  last  sub- 
dued them  and  forced  them  to  pay  tribute.  It  was 
in  Pepin's  time  also  that  the  form  of  government 
was  restored  to  the  old  royal  system;  and  while  he 
accomplished  this  he  also  insisted  that  the  influence 
of  the  clergy  should  not  be  impaired.  First  of  all 
he  sought  to  secure  the  favor  of  the  bishops  of  the 
country,  and  succeeded  so  well  that  two  of  them 
agreed  to  settle  matters  with  the  Pope.  Everything 
seemed  to  favor  his  plans.  The  Pope  was  hard 
pressed  by  the  brave  Lombardian  King  Haistulf 
and  in  sore  need  of  help.  After  consultation  with  the 
bishops  Pepin  compelled  Haistulf  to  give  up  his 
possessions  to  the  Pope,  and  the  Pope  recognized 
the  Franks  as  defenders  of  the  Church.^ 

Pepin  the  Short,  like  his  predecessors,  Charles 
Martel,  Pepin  of  Heristal,  and  Pepin  of  Landen, 
achieved  great  results  for  the  Prankish  kingdom. 
For  some  years  he  carried  on  war  with  Aquitania 
and  eventually  added  that  country  to  his  dominions. 

^  The  origin  of  the  temporal  power  of  the  Pope. 
[28] 


RETROSPECT 


When  the  Saxons  hesitated  about  paying  the  tribute 
which  his  father  had  exacted  from  them,  he  drew  his 
sword  and  compelled  them  to  keep  their  agreement. 
When  he  realized  that  his  death  was  fast  approach- 
ing, he  divided  his  kingdom  between  his  sons, 
Charles  ^  and  Carloman.  Charles,  the  elder,  in- 
herited Aquitania,  Austrasia,^  Thuringia,  Bavaria, 
Mainz,  and  Worms;  Carloman  inherited  Burgundy, 
Alsace,  Provence,  and  Alemannia.  Neustria  ^  was 
divided  equally  between  them. 
Pepin  died  in  768. 

1  Charlemagne. 

^Austrasia  corresponds  to  the  western  part  of  Germany. 

'  Neustria  corresponds  to  Northern  France  and  Flanders. 


[29] 


Chapter  III 
Charlemagne  and  Desiderius 


CHARLEMAGNE  was  born  at  Alx-la-Chapelle 
in  742  and  was  twenty-six  years  of  age  when 
he  became  sovereign.  His  brother  Carlo- 
man  died  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign,  which  left 
Charlemagne  ruler  of  the  whole  kingdom.  It  may 
be  stated  in  advance  that  he  enjoyed  but  one  year  of 
peace  during  his  forty-six  years  of  power. 

"Hammer  and  anvil"  was  the  paramount  method 
of  action  in  the  political  world  of  those  days.  There 
was  never  any  possibility  of  living  at  peace  with 
one's  neighbor.  It  was  either  oppress  him  or  be 
oppressed  by  him.     There  was  no  middle  course. 

Let  us  now  follow  the  campaign  of  Charlemagne 
against  Desiderius,  King  of  the  Lombards. ^  To 
make  its  significance  and  progress  as  clear  as  possible 
we  must  first  of  all  consider  the  relations  of  Charle- 
magne and  his  brother  Carloman,  who,  as  already 
stated,  died  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign. 


1  Desiderius,  who  reigned  from  756  to  774,  was  the  last  of  the  Lom- 
bard kings.    At  this  time  he  had  invaded  the  Papal  possessions. 

[30] 


DESIDERIUS 


The  consent  of  the  grandees  of  the  Prankish  king- 
dom was  necessary  to  the  validation  of  Pepin's 
division  of  the  kingdom  between  the  two  sons. 
The  restriction,  however,  was  made  by  Pepin  that 
while  Charlemagne  and  Carloman  were  invested 
with  their  new  dignities,  the  Prankish  kingdom 
should  remain  a  united  kingdom,  its  administration 
only  being  divided  between  them.  Pepin's  wishes 
were  respected,  and  measures  were  taken  to  main- 
tain the  unity  of  the  kingdom.  But  the  two  brothers 
had  hardly  assumed  the  task  of  sovereignty  when 
an  event  occurred  which  put  to  the  test  their  good 
faith  and  their  readiness  to  carry  out  the  obligations 
laid  down  by  Pepin. 

Wolf,  chief  of  the  southwestern  Prankish  duke- 
dom, raised  the  banner  of  revolt,  believing  that  he 
could  now  accomplish  what  his  predecessor,  Waisar, 
had  striven  in  vain  to  do  while  Pepin  was  living. 
Charlemagne  promptly  prepared  to  suppress  the  up- 
rising, and  called  upon  his  brother  Carloman  to  assist 
him.  Carloman  declined,  and  Charlemagne  was 
forced  to  act  alone;  but  he  quickly  succeeded  in 
quelling  the  revolt.  It  is  not  strange  that  he  and 
his  Pranks  were  angry  at  the  conduct  of  his  brother, 
and  that  there  were  many,  not  only  in  his  own,  but 
in  his  brother's  part  of  the  kingdom,  who  regretted 

[31] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


that  Charlemagne  had  not  been  made  sole  ruler. 
Carloman's  action  was  not  only  regarded  as  faith- 
less toward  his  brother,  but  even  stigmatized  as 
treachery  against  the  united  kingdom,  the  evil  con- 
sequences of  which  could  be  averted  only  by  Charle- 
magne's strong  arm.  The  latter's  leading  warriors, 
indeed,  had  been  in  favor  of  taking  the  field  against 
Wolf  without  paying  any  attention  to  his  brother. 
It  was  due  to  Charlemagne's  mother,  the  royal 
widow  Bertha,^  that  the  world  of  that  day  was 
spared  the  tragedy  of  a  fraternal  and  civil  war. 

This  distinguished  lady,  who  was  so  greatly  be- 
loved by  the  people  that  she  was  celebrated  in  later 
tradition  as  "The  Swan  Maiden,"  was  tenderly 
loved  by  Charlemagne.  She  determined  to  overcome 
his  resentment  against  his  brother  and  reconcile 
them.  She  succeeded  in  doing  this,  but  had  hardly 
done  so  when  Carloman  died.  The  grandees  and 
church  dignitaries  thereupon  assembled  and  named 
Charlemagne  ruler  of  the  whole  Frankish  kingdom. 
They  recognized  the  danger  confronting  a  divided 
kingdom  and  hastened  to  avert  it. 

Gilberga,  Carloman's  widow,  if  she  had  been  wise 

*  Bertha  was  designated  as  "Bertha  with  the  large  foot,"  because 
one  of  her  feet  was  larger  than  the  other.  All  kinds  of  romances  have 
been  woven  about  her.  She  died  at  Choisy  in  783  at  a  very  advanced 
age. 

[32] 


DESIDERIUS 


would  have  placed  herself  under  the  protection  of 
Charlemagne  and  her  mother-in-law,  the  widow 
Bertha.  Instead  of  this,  she  was  induced  by  Charle- 
magne's enemies  to  leave  the  country,  with  the 
intention  at  a  favorable  time  of  asserting  the  rights 
of  her  two  sons.  This  she  soon  did  at  the  court  of 
the  Lombardian  King,  Desiderius,  who  entertained 
strong  animosity  against  the  Franks.  Pepin  had 
forced  King  Haistulf,  Desiderius's  predecessor,  when 
he  was  threatening  Rome  and  had  seized  Ravenna, 
to  give  up  not  only  the  Roman,  but  other  possessions 
to  the  Papacy.  This  was  not  forgotten  by  Desi- 
derius; and  when,  after  Haistulf 's  death  by  a  fall 
from  his  horse,  he  succeeded  him,  he  regarded  him- 
self as  heir  to  the  Papal  throne  and  the  avenger  of 
Haistulf;  and  he  lost  no  opportunity  of  intermeddling 
in  Roman  affairs. 

After  the  death  of  Paul  the  First,  in  Rome,  a  lay- 
man, named  Constantine,  came  to  the  Papal  chair. 
Christoph  and  Sergius,  chiefs  of  the  opposing  fac- 
tion, thereupon  betook  themselves  to  Desiderius 
and  appealed  for  his  assistance,  which  he  was  willing 
to  give,  as  he  had  his  own  advantage  in  view.  Con- 
stantine was  promptly  deposed,  seized  as  a  prisoner, 
and  blinded.  Desiderius  then  determined  to  place 
a  Lombardian  in  the  Papal  chair,  and  instructed 

[33] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


the  two  Lombardian  priests,  Waldibert  and  Philip, 
to  organize  a  party  in  Rome  which  should  select 
Philip  as  Pope.  Too  late,  Christoph  and  Sergius 
regretted  that  they  had  invoked  the  help  of  Desi- 
derius.  In  the  meantime,  however,  they  accom- 
plished the  removal  of  the  two  Lombard  priests 
by  an  uprising.  The  new  Pope  Philip  and  his  as- 
sistant fled  to  a  church.  The  right  of  asylum, 
however,  was  not  recognized  by  their  enemies. 
Philip  was  consigned  to  the  dungeon  of  a  monastery, 
and  Waldibert  was  torn  from  the  image  of  the 
Virgin,  to  which  he  was  clinging,  and  blinded. 

Christoph  and  Sergius  succeeded  in  electing  a 
Roman  as  Pope,  who  took  the  name  of  Stephen 
the  Third;  but  as  he  did  not  manage  affairs  to 
please  them,  they  determined  to  depose  him  by  force. 
Realizing  the  danger  which  threatened  him,  Stephen 
appealed  to  Desiderius,  who  again  showed  himself 
ready  for  any  service  which  should  inure  to  his  own 
advantage.  The  most  friendly  assurances  were  ex- 
tended, and  Stephen,  in  letters  to  Charlemagne  and 
his  mother,  could  hardly  find  words  to  sound  the 
praises  of  Desiderius,  who  was  doing  so  much  for 
Rome.  Christoph  and  Sergius,  who  had  mustered 
a  considerable  force,  were  attacked  by  Desiderius  and 
defeated,  and  both  were  made  prisoners  and  blinded. 

[34] 


DESIDERIUS 


Stephen  now  was^at  the  mercy  of  Desiderius,  who 
used  every  means  in  his  power  to  compel  him  to 
surrender  voluntarily  to  him  the  possessions  which 
Pepin  had  restored  to  the  Church.  This  proved  a 
fresh  source  of  resentment  on  Charlemagne's  part 
against  Desiderius.  He  only  waited  for  Stephen  to 
appeal  to  him  for  help,  and  held  himself  in  readiness 
to  lend  it;  but  his  plans  were  frustrated  by  a  new 
move  which  he  could  not  resist.  His  mother,  who 
had  gone  to  Italy,  interposed  and  wrote  letters  to 
him  which  led  to  anything  rather  than  a  warlike 
view  of  the  situation.  Although  she  had  no  doubt 
of  the  lion-hearted  nature  of  her  son,  or  of  the  valor 
of  his  army,  she  could  not  view  the  dangers  arising 
from  a  conflict  between  the  Franks  and  the  Lom- 
bards without  the  gravest  solicitude.  She  was  suf- 
ficiently shrewd  and  experienced  to  appreciate  the 
situation.  She  reflected  that  the  Bavarian  Duke 
Thassilo,  her  dead  husband's  nephew,  without  whose 
consent  Charlemagne  could  not  have  attained  to 
sovereignty,  was  as  inimical  to  him  as  Desiderius 
was.  Thassilo  had  proved  disloyal  to  Pepin  in  re- 
fusing him  the  assistance  he  was  in  duty  bound  to 
furnish  in  the  war  against  Waisar,  Wolf's  prede- 
cessor. Bertha  knew  that  death  alone  prevented 
her  husband  from  punishing  his  perfidy.     As  Thas- 

[35] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


silo  and  Desiderius  were  now  on  good  terms  she 
feared  that  if  Charlemagne  should  attack  the  one, 
the  other  would  come  to  his  help.  Besides  this,  the 
Saxons  to  the  north  of  the  Prankish  kingdom  were 
in  arms  again.  She  also  feared  in  case  of  war 
that  the  West-Frankish  dukedom  would  rise  again. 
Lastly,  she  knew  that  Desiderius  had  promised  the 
widow  and  sons  of  Carloman  to  provoke  an  uprising 
in  their  favor  in  the  Frankish  kingdom. 

To  avert  these  dangers  Bertha  planned  to  bring 
Desiderius,  Thassilo,  and  Charlemagne  into  a  tri- 
partite relationship,  and  thus  establish  friendly 
conditions.  She  proposed  that  Charlemagne  and 
Thassilo  should  marry  daughters  of  Desiderius  and 
that  Adalgis,  Desiderius's  only  son,  should  marry 
Gisela,  Charlemagne's  sister.  The  plan  was  accepted 
by  all  concerned  except  the  fair  Gisela,  who  chose  to 
go  to  a  convent  and  engage  in  its  pious  duties,  rather 
than  wear  a  crown.^  She  is  honored  in  the  Catholic 
Church  to-day  under  the  name  of  Itisberg. 

The  daughter  of  Desiderius  selected  by  Bertha  as 
the  spouse  of  her  son  was  named  Desiderata.  She 
is  described  as  a  princess  of  beautiful  face  and  stately 
mien.     Bertha  presented  her  to  Charlemagne,  who, 

*  Gisela  had  already  declined  an  offer  of  marriage  from  Leo  the 
Fourth,  King  of  Greece. 


[36] 


DESIDERIUS 


in  the  meantime,  had  separated  from  his  first  wife, 
the  daughter  of  a  Prankish  nobleman.  At  that  time 
marital  separations  and  remarriages  were  not  un- 
common among  the  upper  classes,  and  some  of  the 
very  highest  class  had  several  wives.  Bertha  had 
managed  this  business  secretly,  and  the  Pope  did 
not  hear  of  her  plans  until  Desiderata  had  gone  to 
the  Prankish  country.  It  is  not  strange  that  the 
news  caused  him  the  greatest  anxiety,  for  he  clearly 
foresaw  that  if  Charlemagne  became  the  son-in-law 
of  Desiderius,  he  could  no  longer  look  to  the  Pranks 
for  the  protection  of  the  territory  which  Pepin  had 
taken  from  the  Lombards  and  given  to  the  Church. 
He  wrote  an  urgent  letter  to  Charlemagne,  imploring 
him  to  break  off  marriage  with  Desiderata,  even 
going  so  far  as  to  declare  that  the  Lombards,  not- 
withstanding they  had  been  living  with  the  Roman 
people,  were  still  little  better  than  carrion,  and  the 
descendants  of  lepers.  He  closed  with  these  words: 
"We  have  sent  you  this  our  appeal,  from  the  grave 
of  Saint  Peter,  and  with  our  tears.  Should  you  — 
which  we  cannot  believe  —  defy  the  authority  of 
Peter,  our  master,  the  ban  will  be  imposed  upon 
you.  You  wil  be  banished  from  God's  Kingdom 
eternally  to  consort  with  the  devil  and  the  wicked 
in  the  everlasting  fires  of  hell." 

[37] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


When  Charlemagne  received  this  letter  the  wed- 
ding festivities  were  already  over.  The  warning 
had  come  too  late.  Whether  of  itself  it  would  have 
thwarted  the  plans  of  Bertha  is  uncertain,  but  in 
any  event  it  strengthened  the  prejudice  of  Charle- 
magne against  Desiderata  which  he  had  had  from 
the  first.  It  was  not  long  before  she  became  so 
unbearable  to  him  that  he  sent  her  back  to  her 
father.  The  conciliatory  work  of  his  mother,  well 
intended  as  it  had  been,  was  ruined. 

Desiderius,  enraged  to  the  extreme  both  against 
Charlemagne  and  the  Pope,  held  the  latter  princi- 
pally responsible  for  the  affront  put  upon  his  daugh- 
ter, and  resolved  to  wreak  vengeance  at  once.  He 
demanded  that  the  Pope  should  crown  the  son  of 
Carloman  as  King  of  the  Franks,  intending  after 
that  to  incite  an  uprising  in  that  country  in  his 
favor.  The  time  seemed  auspicious,  as  Charlemagne 
was  now  at  war  with  the  Saxons.  While  the  Pope 
was  hesitating,  and  just  as  Desiderius  was  about  to 
use  force,  Stephen  died  and  was  succeeded  by 
Hadrian. 

Hadrian  could  not  be  induced  to  crown  the  young 
prince,  either  by  flattery  or  by  threats.  Desiderius 
thereupon  began  harrying  the  Papal  territory  and 
advanced  to  lay  siege  to  Rome.     As  he  occupied 

[38] 


DESIDERIUS 


all  land  communications,  Hadrian  sent  messengers 
to  Marseilles  and  thence  to  Diedenbofen^  the  seat 
of  Charlemagne's  court  at  that  time.  In  his  letter 
Hadrian  informed  the  King  of  Desiderius's  demand 
and  his  threatening  movement,  and  implored  him  not 
to  let  him  fall  into  Desiderius's  hands.  Immediately 
after  the  receipt  of  this  letter  Charlemagne  received 
one  from  Desiderius,  in  which  the  latter,  to  gain  time 
for  carrying  out  his  designs  against  Rome,  assured 
him  he  had  given  up  everything  to  the  Pope  which 
belonged  to  him. 

Charlemagne,  however,  was  not  deceived.  The 
favor  which  Desiderius  had  shown  to  the  son  of 
Carloman  clearly  revealed  his  hostility  to  himself. 
He  decided  upon  war  with  the  Lombards  at  once, 
and  the  campaign  was  begun  in  the  autumn  of  the 
year  773.  1 

Charlemagne  mustered  his  forces  at  Geneva.  Their 
equipment  was  essentially  different  from  that  for- 
merly used  by  the  Franks.  They  were  armed  with 
the  longer  Roman  spear  as  well  as  the  larger  shield, 
the  latter  furnishing  better  protection  for  the  body 
than  the  round  Prankish  shield.  In  place  of  the  old 
leathern  head-covering  they  wore  the  brazen  helmet 
and  visor.     The  body  was  also  protected  by  a  coat 

^  A  town  in  Alsace-Lorraine  on  the  Moselle  River,  near  Metz. 

[39] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


of  mail.  Many  of  the  soldiers  carried  heavy  clubs 
in  place  of  the  long  swords.  These  formidable 
weapons  were  made  of  knotted  oak,  cased  in  iron, 
and  sometimes  made  entirely  of  that  metal. 

Upon  the  advice  of  those  Franks  who  were  hostile 
to  Charlemagne  and  had  been  entertained  at  the 
court  of  Desiderius,  the  Alpine  passes  leading  into 
Lombardy  were  obstructed  besides  being  strongly 
guarded.  In  this  way  Desiderius  felt  certain  he 
could  defy  Charlemagne.  Another  event  increased 
his  feeling  of  security.  Charlemagne,  in  considera- 
tion of  the  natural  resentment  of  a  father  whose 
daughter  had  been  humiliated,  sought  once  more 
to  establish  friendly  relations  with  him.  He  ap- 
pealed to  him  to  acquiesce  in  Pepin's  assignment  of 
territory  to  the  Church  and  to  abstain  from  any 
assault  upon  his  sovereignty.  Unfortunately  for 
Desiderius,  he  looked  upon  this  as  a  proof  that 
Charlemagne  recognized  the  impossibility  of  invad- 
ing Italy.  Thereupon  he  contemptuously  rejected 
the  offer  and  went  so  far  with  his  insolence  that 
the  latter,  realizing  now  that  war  was  inevitable, 
exclaimed:  "He  does  not  fear  the  barking  of  the 
German  dog  so  long  as  it  does  not  come  out  of  its 
kennel." 

Charlemagne  prepared  for  every  emergency.     Im- 

[40] 


DESIDERIUS 


mediately  upon  the  receipt  of  Desiderius's  reply,  he 
began  a  forward  movement.  He  led  the  main  part 
of  his  army  over  Mont  Cenis  by  a  route  which 
Desiderius  had  supposed  to  be  impassable;  while 
his  uncle  Bernhard  with  another  division  crossed 
Mount  JoU.  The  two  divisions  met  at  the  southern 
base  of  the  Alps.  No  resistance  had  been  offered 
except  at  one  spot,  and  that  was  easily  overcome. 
Charlemagne  pressed  forward  without  delay,  de- 
feated the  Lombard  forces  of  Adalgis  and  the 
Prankish  leader  Ottocar,  and  advanced  to  the  siege 
of  Pavia,^  whither  Ottocar  had  fled  to  join  Desi- 
derius. As  the  siege  might  be  a  long  one,  Charle- 
magne at  the  head  of  one  division  of  his  army 
advanced  toward  Rome,  taking  possession,  on  the 
way,  of  many  Roman  cities  which  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  Lombards. 

There  was  as  great  rejoicing  in  Rome  as  there  was 
consternation  among  the  Lombards  at  Charlemagne's 
victorious  progress.  Preparations  were  made  to  wel- 
come the  rescuer.     Ozanam  says: 

"On  Easter  Saturday  Charlemagne  appeared  before  the 
gates  of  Rome.  The  clergy  bearing  crosses,  the  senators 
and  magistrates  waving  banners,  and  the  children  carry- 

*  The  capital  of  the  province  of  Pavia,  on  the  Ticino  River.  It  has 
been  the  scene  of  war  and  siege  for  centuries. 


[41] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


ing  palm  branches  and  singing  hymns,  went  out  to  meet 
him.  He  ascended  to  the  Vatican  where  Pope  Hadrian 
awaited  him.  On  the  following  day  he  donned  the  tunic 
and  laticlavlum  and  sat  in  the  court  of  justice.  Military 
authority  and  civil  jurisdiction  were  exercised  alike  by 
patricians."  * 

Shortly  after  this  Charlemagne  set  out  for  his 
uncle's  camp  before  Pavia.  The  chronicles  of  St. 
Gall  describe  his  arrival.  Desiderius,  who  was  shut 
in  there,  mounted  a  high  tower  with  Ottocar,  from 
which  he  espied  Charlemagne's  army  approaching  in 
the  distance.    At  first  they  saw  only  the  war  machines. 

"Is  not  Charlemagne  there  with  this  great  expe- 
dition.^" asked  Desiderius. 

Ottocar  replied  that  he  was  not. 

But  when  Desiderius  saw  the  large  force  of  war- 
riors following,  he  said,  "Surely  Charlemagne  is 
among  that  multitude." 

"No,  not  yet,"  said  Ottocar. 

"But  what  shall  we  do,"  said  Desiderius,  who 
was  growing  very  anxious,  "if  he  should  come  with 
a  still  greater  number  of  soldiers.^" 

While  he  was  speaking,  the  bodyguards  appeared, 
at  sight  of  whom  the  panic-stricken  Desiderius  cried 
out,  "There  comes  Charlemagne." 

*  Charlemagne  was  made  a  patrician  in  the  time  of  Pepin. 

[42] 


DESIDERIUS 


Ottocar  again  assured  him  he  was  not  there. 

Then  came  bishops,  abbes,  the  clergy  of  the  royal 
chapel,  and  the  grandees.  Desiderius  exclaimed 
with  a  groan,  "Let  us  hide  ourselves  in  the  bowels 
of  the  earth,  far  away  from  the  sight  of  this  terrible 
enemy!" 

Hardly  had  he  uttered  these  words  when  they  saw 
something  in  the  west  like  a  black  cloud  driven  by 
the  northeast  wind.  The  glimmer  of  weapons  fore- 
told a  day  for  the  doomed  city  as  dark  as  night. 
Then  Charlemagne  himself  appeared  —  that  man  of 
iron,  iron-helmeted  and  gauntleted,  his  breast  and 
shoulders  in  coat  of  iron  mail,  with  lance  uplifted 
in  his  right  hand,  his  left  grasping  his  sword-hilt. 

Famine  and  pestilence  forced  the  surrender  of  the 
city.  Desiderius  was  deposed  and  his  throne  de- 
clared forfeited,  and  he  was  sent  first  to  Luttich  and 
thence  to  the  monastery  of  Corvey,^  where  he  was 
compelled  to  spend  his  remaining  days  in  the  exer- 
cise of  penance.  His  son,  Adalgis,  escaped  a  like 
fate  by  flight.  After  the  surrender  the  Archbishop 
of  Milan  crowned  Charlemagne  with  the  Iron  Crown, 
so  called  because  a  nail  from  the  Cross,  said  to  have 
been  brought  by  the  Empress  Helene  from  Jerusalem, 
was  set  among  its  jewels. 

*  An  old  Benedictine  Abbey  on  the  Weser. 

[43] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Immediately  after  the  coronation,  Paulus  Dia- 
conus/  famous  as  a  historian,  tried  to  incite  revolt. 
He  was  arrested,  brought  before  the  military  court, 
and  sentenced  to  a  shameful  death.  Charlemagne, 
however,  did  not  execute  the  penalty.  He  admired 
the  man  for  his  patriotism  and  gave  him  his  freedom. 
He  established  a  constitution  and  laws  for  the  Lom- 
bards, and  after  settling  the  affairs  of  their  kingdom, 
received  news  of  the  Saxon  uprising. 

1  Paulus  Diaconus  was  born  about  720  and  died  before  800.  He  was 
the  great  historian  of  his  time,  his  principal  work  being  a  "History 
of  the  Lombards." 


[44] 


Chapu 


er  IV 

The  First  Eleven  Tears  of  the  Saxon  War 

WE  must  now  consider  the  longest  and  most 
desperate   of   Charlemagne's    wars  —  that 
waged   against  the   Saxons,   which   began 
before  his  campaign  against  Desiderius  and  lasted 
not  less  than  thirty-three  years. 

A  bitter  race  antagonism  had  long  prevailed  be- 
tween the  Franks  and  the  Saxons.  As  already  related, 
the  latter  had  been  subjugated  by  Charlemagne's 
predecessors  and  forced  to  pay  tribute.  Saxony 
extended  along  both  sides  of  the  Weser,  westerly 
to  the  vicinity  of  the  lower  Rhine,  southwesterly 
to  the  Harz  ^  and  the  Unstrut,^  and  northerly  to 
the  ocean,  except  the  country  occupied  by  the 
Frisians.  Four  races  inhabited  Saxony  —  the  West- 
phalians,  living  between  the  Weser  and  the  Issel; 
the  Eastphalians,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Weser  to 
the  Elbe;  the  Eugen,  between  both  these;  and  the 
Northmen,  or  Nordalbingi,^  who  lived  on  both  sides 

^  A  range  of  mountains  in  Brunswick,  Anhalt,  Hanover,  and  Saxony. 
'  A  river  in  Central  Germany,  emptying  into  the  Saale  at  Naumburg. 
2  Nordalbingia  included  the  country  now  known  as  Holstein. 

[45] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


of  the  Elbe.  "Phalen"  or  *^Falen"  means  a  great 
plain,  and  one  of  these  names  (Westphalia)  is  in 
use  to-day. 

The  Saxons  were  not  far  advanced  in  civilization. 
The  hatred  which  they  entertained  against  the  Ger- 
mans, who  had  been  converted  to  Christianity  by 
Boniface  ^  and  other  missionaries,  had  caused  them 
to  break  off  friendly  intercourse  with  their  ances- 
tral associates.  They  worshipped  Odin  and  other 
heathen  divinities  in  their  forests,  as  of  old.  Charle- 
magne conducted  his  campaign  against  them,  not  so 
much  in  the  interest  of  religion  as  to  overthrow  the 
power  of  a  dangerous  neighbor,  before  he  went  to 
Italy  to  subjugate  Desiderius.  He  invaded  Saxony 
and  occupied  Eresburg,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  was 
Irminsul,  the  mystic  idol  revered  by  the  Saxons.^ 
Its  significance  is  still  doubtful.  Some  maintain 
that  it  typified  the  world-ash  tree  "Ygdrasil,"  whose 
trunk,  the  Germans  believed,  was  rooted  in  the 
underworld  and  whose  branches  shadowed  Oin'sd 
palace,  Walhalla.  Others  contend  that  it  was  a 
memorial  of  Arminius  who  freed  Germany  from  the 

*  Saint  Boniface  was  an  English  missionary  called  "The  Apostle 
of  Germany." 

'  Arminius,  who  achieved  German  independence,  was  the  Saxon 
hero,  and  they  called  this  idol  "Irminsul,"  another  form  of  "Hermann 
Saule"  ("Hermann's  Pillar"). 


[46 


SAXON    WAR 


Roman  yoke.  The  Irminsul  was  demolished  by  the 
Franks.  The  Saxons  at  last  sued]  for  peace,  which 
Charlemagne  granted  after  they  had  given  him 
twelve  hostages.     Then  he  retired  with  his  army. 

After  this  opening  success  over  the  Saxons,  Charle- 
magne began  his  campaign  against  Desiderius;  but 
hardly  had  he  deposed  the  Lombardian  King  before 
he  received  the  news  that  the  Saxons,  in  violation  of 
their  promise  to  remain  peaceable,  had  invaded 
Hesse  and  were  laying  it  waste.  He  appeared  among 
them  so  suddenly  and  in  such  force  that  they  were 
again  easily  overcome.  Once  more  they  submitted, 
sent  him  hostages,  and  were  pardoned.  It  was  not 
his  good  fortune,  however,  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
victory  long.  An  uprising  in  Italy,  led  by  Adalgis, 
son  of  Desiderius,  who  had  previously  escaped,  as 
has  been  related,  next  confronted  him.  Adalgis  be- 
took himself  to  the  court  of  the  Greek  Emperor  to 
seek  his  assistance,  and  made  an  alliance  with  his 
brother-in-law  Arighis,  Duke  of  Benevento,^  who  had 
married  the  rejected  Desiderata.  By  this  alliance  he 
secured  the  help  of  the  other  Italian  nobles,  who 
had  been  left  undisturbed  upon  condition  of  re- 
maining loyal.  The  landing  of  Adalgis  with  his 
Greek  auxiliaries  was  the  signal  for  an  uprising. 
*  Benevento,  a  Lombard  duchy  in  Southern  Italy. 

[47] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Upon  receipt  of  the  news  of  his  enemy's  designs 
from  the  Pope,  Charlemagne  hastened  to  Italy. 
Only  one  of  the  nobles,  however,  Duke  Rotgund  in 
Friaul,  had  ventured  to  take  up  arms,  and  he  was 
quickly  defeated,  taken  prisoner,  and  made  to  do 
penance  the  rest  of  his  life.  The  remaining  nobles 
were  stripped  of  their  possessions  and  the  country 
was  divided  into  earldoms,  governed  by  Prankish 
nobles. 

As  soon  as  the  Saxons  learned  that  Charlemagne 
was  engaged  in  Italy,  throwing  their  promises  to 
the  winds,  they  rose  again,  destroyed  a  number  of 
Christian  churches,  and  advanced  to  lay  siege  to 
Eresburg,  which  was  occupied  by  the  Franks. 
Failing  to  capture  the  stronghold  by  assault,  they 
resorted  to  trickery.  By  a  pretended  retreat  they 
induced  the  Franks  to  make  a  sally,  then  turned 
upon  them,  slaughtered  them,  and  demolished  the 
fortress.  A  few  of  the  garrison  saved  themselves  by 
flight  to  Siegburg  on  the  Ruhr,^  which  was  attacked 
by  the  Saxons  without  success.  Charlemagne,  in 
the  meantime,  having  returned  from  Italy,  suddenly 
appeared  in  Saxony  and  overcame  all  opposition. 
He  once  more  pardoned  those  who  implored  mercy, 
restored  Eresburg,  and  built  the  fortress  of  Lippe- 

1  The  chief  tributary  of  the  Rhine  in  Prussia. 

[48] 


SAXON    WAR 


stadt.  To  appease  the  King,  several  of  the  nobles, 
among  them  Bruno,  son-in-law  of  Wittekind,^  ac- 
cepted Christian  baptism  and  remained  as  hostages 
with  the  King.  Charlemagne  did  not  avenge  this 
disloyalty  upon  his  hostages,  but  continued  his 
efforts  to  overcome  opposition  by  mild  measures 
which  were  not  altogether  satisfactory  to  his  leaders. 
In  his  opinion  the  time  had  not  yet  come  to  under- 
take forcible  conversions,  for  he  was  convinced  that 
Christian  belief  and  faith  could  not  be  imposed  by 
violence.  He  was  fully  resolved  to  Christianize  the 
Saxons,  but  he  had  other  methods  in  view  of  bring- 
ing about  that  result.  He  was  equally  determined 
that  the  Saxons  should  become  a  political  element 
in  the  great  German  nation,  but  he  was  cautious 
about  taking  any  measures  that  were  not  absolutely 
necessary. 

It  was  Charlemagne's  custom  to  call  an  annual 
assembly  of  the  leaders  of  his  people  upon  the 
Champ  de  Mai  ^  to  discuss  affairs  of  state.  He 
decided  that  year  {^']'])  to  hold  it  in  Saxony,  and 
selected  for  its  locality  the  district  at  the  source  of 
the  Lippe  near  Paderborn  He  hoped  the  Saxons 
would   regard   this   gathering  as   a   peace   measure. 

^  Wittekind  was  the   Saxon  leader  against  Charlemagne    and  con- 
ducted the  war  until  785,  when  he  submitted. 
2  Field  of  May. 

[49] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Their  leaders  were  invited  to  participate  and  ap- 
peared in  a  body,  with  the  exception  of  Wittekind, 
who  bitterly  hated  the  Franks.  He  had  escaped 
after  the  defeat;  and  as  Adalgis  sought  assistance 
from  the  Greek  Emperor,  so  he  appealed  to  his 
brother-in-law  Siegfried,  King  of  Denmark,  to  aid 
him. 

The  Saxon  chiefs  beheld  Charlemagne  for  the 
first  time  in  the  majesty  of  peaceful  surroundings. 
Heroes  of  the  sword  and  dignitaries  of  the  Church 
were  gathered  around  his  throne.  Many  of  these 
chiefs  willingly  acknowledged  such  a  master.  It 
happened  also  that  a  Moorish  Embassy  from  Spain 
was  in  Paderborn  at  this  time.  The  Saxons  beheld 
the  newcomers  with  astonishment,  so  different  was 
their  splendid  attire  from  that  of  the  northern 
peoples.  The  Moorish  leaders  had  come  to  seek  the 
help  of  Charlemagne  against  Abderrahman,  Caliph 
of  Cordova,  and  promised  to  transfer  their  allegiance 
to  him  in  case  he  freed  them  from  his  power.  Charle- 
magne was  glad  of  the  opportunity  to  interpose  in 
Spanish  affairs.  He  promised  to  help  the  petitioners, 
and  in  the  meantime  decided  to  demand  a  district 
in  northern  Spain  for  himself  as  a  defence,  in  case  of 
emergency,  against  the  Moors  of  the  southern  part. 
The  Saxons  for  the  first  time  realized  the  wide  extent 
[so] 


SAXON    WAR 


of  his  authority  and  fame.     How  could  they  longer 
withstand  him,  they  asked  themselves.  Ozanam  says: 

"Many  of  them  swore  allegiance  and  promised  to  sur- 
render their  country  and  their  freedom  if  they  violated 
their  word.  Many  renounced  idol  worship  and  were 
baptized.  A  multitude  of  men,  women,  and  children 
went  down  to  the  river  in  white  garments,  accompanied 
by  chanting  priests,  and  came  back  Christians;  at  their 
head  the  priests  and  monks,  who  had  thus  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  the  Christian  Saxon  Church.  The  world  rejoiced 
at  the  conversion." 

No  one  was  more  delighted  than  Charlemagne. 
It  heightened  his  hope  and  enthusiasm  when  he  set 
out  upon  the  Spanish  expedition  the  following  year. 
He  crossed  the  Pyrenees,  overcame  Pampeluna  and 
Barcelona,  and  made  Navarre,  Aragon,  and  Cata- 
lonia subject  to  his  authority.  Saragossa  was  next 
invested,  and  after  a  short  resistance  its  people  sub- 
mitted to  him  and  gave  hostages  and  tribute.  There- 
upon he  made  northeastern  Spain,  as  far  as  the  Ebro, 
the  limit  of  the  Prankish  kingdom  in  Spain,  and 
established  a  barrier  against  the  Moors,  intending 
thereby  to  discourage  pagan  invasions  and  prevent 
the  disturbance  of  the  Christian  world,  as  his  grand- 
father had  done  before  him. 

[SI] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Unfortunate  news  from  home  forced  Charlemagne 
to  leave  Spain.  While  crossing  the  Pyrenees  a  part 
of  his  army  met  with  serious  disaster.  The  rear 
guard,  led  by  Roland,  was  ambushed  in  a  narrow 
valley  near  Roncesvalles  by  the  Basques  and  slaught- 
ered to  the  last  man.  It  was  impossible  to  offer 
resistance,  for  the  enemy  occupied  an  impregnable 
position  on  the  heights,  from  which  they  rolled  down 
huge  rocks  and  hurled  showers  of  missiles.  The 
hero  Roland  and  his  brave  comrades,  the  paladin 
Anschelm  and  the  seneschal  Eckart,  who  were 
slain,  were  celebrated  at  a  later  period  in  song  and 
romance.  Charlemagne  undoubtedly  would  have 
turned  back  to  avenge  them  had  not  a  new  Saxon 
uprising  forced  him  to  return  as  speedily  as  possible. 
He  soon  defeated  the  Saxons  and  laid  waste  their 
country  to  the  Elbe.  The  usual  result  followed. 
Wittekind  fled,  the  Saxons  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 
and  gave  securities. 

Charlemagne  well  knew  that  the  roots  of  the 
Saxon  animosity  were  grounded  in  their  heathen  re- 
ligion. He  determined  to  eradicate  it  by  force.  His 
scheme  was  to  pardon  only  those  who  consented  to 
be  baptized  and  to  remain  faithful  to  the  Christian 
faith.  Death  should  be  the  penalty  of  participation 
in  the  heathen  service.     Forcible  measures  of  this 

[52] 


SAXON    WAR 


kind,  imposed  for  the  purpose  of  changing  ideas  and 
sentiments,  are  improper,  it  is  true;  but  under  exist- 
ing circumstances  it  seemed  the  only  preventive  of 
their  constant  uprisings.  It  also  promised  to  be  of 
great  advantage,  as  the  younger  generation  would 
be  influenced  by  the  abandonment  of  the  heathen 
religion  to  become  loyal. 

Charlemagne  not  only  determined  to  introduce 
Christianity,  but  Frankish  laws  as  well.  Saxony 
was  divided  into  districts  to  which  Frankish  chiefs 
were  assigned.  He  deemed  it  of  the  highest  impor- 
tance that  a  people  who  had  violated  their  obliga- 
tions so  frequently  should  be  restrained  by  severe 
measures.  The  immediate  outcome  of  this,  how- 
ever, was  the  almost  complete  destruction  of  a  divi- 
sion of  the  Frankish  army  and  the  massacre  of  four 
princes  and  twenty  distinguished  nobles,  by  the 
Saxons,  led  by  Wittekind  and  his  brother  Albion. 
Charlemagne's  grief  at  their  loss  was  as  intense  as 
his  anger  against  the  Saxons.  His  patience  was 
exhausted.  He  determined  that  justice  should  be 
inexorable  in  dealing  with  these  murderers  and  per- 
jurers. If  he  overlooked  their  bloody  deed  it  would 
only  incite  the  Saxons  to  perpetrate  fresh  atrocities. 
He  determined  to  execute  a  penalty  severe  enough 
to  intimidate  the  Saxons  ever  after,  and  to  protect 

[S3] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


those  who  might  be  exposed  to  danger  if  the  guilty 
went  free.  Charlemagne  acted  upon  the  theory  that 
a  judge  who  releases  a  murderer  is  equally  guilty 
if  that  murderer  commits  fresh  crimes.  He  put 
down  the  uprising  at  once;  and  when  the  Saxons  as 
usual  implored  mercy  and  charged  Wittekind  (who 
had  again  fled)  with  the  blame,  he  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  guilty  persons.  They  were  tried 
by  a  military  court,  found  guilty,  and  beheaded. 
Four  thousand  five  hundred  in  one  day!  This  was 
the  massacre  at  Verden!^ — a  grewsome  deed! 
1 A  town  in  the  province  of  Hanover,  near  Bremen. 


[54] 


Chapter    V 
Wittekind'  s  Baptism 


NOTWITHSTANDING  their  many  defeats  and 
the  massacre  at  Verden,  the  Saxons  were  not 
completely  subjugated.  Infuriated  by  that 
dreadful  event,  Wittekind  and  the  Saxon  leaders  in- 
cited another  uprising  and  began  a  war  of  revenge. 
Charlemagne  in  consequence  was  forced  to  use  more 
strenuous  measures  than  before.  Two  desperate 
battles  were  fought,  one  at  Detmold,  which  was  not 
decisive,  and  the  other  at  Hesse,  between  the  Ems 
and  the  Weser,  in  which  the  Saxons,  who  fought 
with  almost  unexampled  bravery,  were  completely 
routed.  Charlemagne  removed  ten  thousand  Saxons 
with  their  women  and  children  to  Brabant  and  Flan- 
ders, where  they  found  new  homes,  their  old  ones 
having  been  turned  over  to  Prankish  settlers. 

The  King  was  now  fully  determined  to  put  an  end 
to  any  further  opposition  by  making  an  offensive 
campaign.  Hitherto  the  Saxons  had  been  the  aggres- 
sors, but  this  year  (784)  he  invaded  Saxony  and  ad- 
vanced as  far  as  the  Elbe.     There  he  learned  that 

[55] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Wittekind  and  Albion  were  on  the  opposite  shore 
of  the  river  and  that  they  were  desirous  of  opening 
negotiations  with  him.  Accordingly  he  sent  messen- 
gers to  them  promising  them  safe  conduct  if  they 
wished  to  meet  him.  Wittekind  sent  back  word 
that  they  were  ready  to  tender  allegiance  and  to 
be  baptized,  whereupon  Charlemagne  arranged  for  a 
meeting  at  his  castle  at  Attigny.^  When  they  arrived 
they  were  received  so  graciously  that  the  King's 
kindness  offset  the  bitter  necessity  which  had  forced 
them  to  submit. 

The  reconciliation  of  Charlemagne  and  Wittekind 
amply  justified  the  former's  attitude  toward  the 
Saxons.  Wittekind,  in  the  presence  of  the  great 
King,  whose  majesty  and  graciousness  impressed  him 
and  whose  words  animated  him  with  a  new  spirit, 
felt  that  had  he  been  in  Charlemagne's  place  he 
should  have  acted  as  the  King  had  done.  In  view 
of  the  event  at  Attigny,  those  who  criticised  Charle- 
magne were  dwarfs  whose  weak  eyes  could  not  see 
above  his  sword  belt,  much  less  appreciate  the  majes- 
tic spirit  that  shone  in  his  kingly  face.  In  their  own 
name  and  in  the  name  of  their  people,  Wittekind 
and  Albion  vowed  allegiance  and  were  baptized, 
together  with  a  great  number  of   Saxons.     Geva, 

^A  small  town  in  Ardennes,  France. 

[56] 


TJYITTEKIND'S 
r^       Submission 


WITTEKIND'S    BAPTISM 

the  wife  of  Wittekind,  who  accompanied  him,  was 
also  baptized.  Charlemagne  regarded  that  day  at 
Attigny  as  the  most  fortunate  in  his  career.  Witte- 
kind, his  wife  Geva,  and  Albion  were  loaded  down 
with  gifts  and  left  for  their  homes  escorted  by  a 
guard  of  honor.  In  a  letter  to  the  Pope,  Charle- 
magne requested  that  a  thanksgiving  festival  be 
ordered  in  commemoration  of  the  event. 

It  is  related  in  the  tradition  concerning  Wittekind's 
baptism  that  he  subsequently  came  in  disguise  to  the 
castle  when  Charlemagne  was  celebrating  the  Christ- 
mas festival,  and  that  what  he  saw  and  heard  there 
removed  the  last  vestige  of  his  heathen  belief  and 
left  him  a  true  Christian. 


57] 


Chapter   VI 
Thassilo  and  the  Avars 


CHARLEMAGNE  now  realized  that  the  time 
had  come  for  him  to  deal  with  Thassilo, 
Duke  of  Bavaria,  a  somewhat  difficult 
matter  because  of  their  near  relationship,  Thassilo 
being,  as  already  stated,  Pepin's  nephew.  The  Duke 
was  not  only  secretly  conspiring  against  Charle- 
magne in  Italy,  but  he  was  also  in  communication 
with  the  leaders  of  the  Slavs  and  Thuringians,  urging 
them  to  resist  Charlemagne's  authority.  His  most 
serious  offence,  however,  was  his  effort  to  induce 
the  Avars  ^  to  assist  in  the  war  against  the  King. 

Charlemagne,  learning  of  the  intrigues  in  Italy, 
appeared  there  much  sooner  than  his  enemies  had 
anticipated,  and  easily  thwarted  their  designs;  after 
which  he  went  to  Rome  and  attended  the  Easter 
festival  (787).  Fearing  that  Charlemagne  might 
discover  all  his  secret  plottings,  Thassilo  sent  mes- 
sengers to  the  Pope  asking  him  to  take  steps  to 
bring  about  a   reconciliation  between   himself  and 

^The  Avars  were  a  savage  robber  people  inhabiting  what  is  now 
Hungary. 

[58] 


THASSILO    AND    THE    AVARS 

the  King.  The  Pope,  however,  uncertain  whether 
he  was  in  earnest  or  simply  wished  to  gain  time,  not 
only  refused  to  comply  with  his  request,  but  sent 
word  to  him  that  if  he  violated  his  solemn  promises 
or  evaded  them  in  any  way  the  ban  would  be  pro- 
nounced against  him. 

After  his  return  Charlemagne  summoned  a  par- 
liament at  Worms  and  laid  Thassilo's  case  before 
it.  His  refusal  to  appear  only  aggravated  his  guilt. 
War  was  declared  against  him.  Three  Frankish 
armies  invaded  Bavaria,  two  of  them  led  by  the 
King's  sons,  Carl  and  Pepin,  the  third  by  Charle- 
magne in  person.  Thassilo  was  taken  by  surprise, 
for  he  had  intended  to  begin  his  operations  later. 
Neither  the  discontented  Thuringians,  who  were  in 
league  with  him,  nor  the  Slavs  and  Avars,  came  to 
his  help.  Thassilo's  wife,  Luitberger,  daughter  of 
Desiderius,  had  persistently  urged  her  husband  to 
make  war  against  Charlemagne,  and  when  too  late 
she  realized  the  folly  of  her  advice  and  the  danger 
which  threatened  Thassilo.  The  Bavarians  them- 
selves were  not  eager  to  fight,  and  indeed  expressed 
more  confidence  in  Charlemagne  than  in  their  Duke. 
Under  these  discouraging  circumstances  Thassilo 
deemed  it  wisest  to  betake  himself  to  Charlemagne's 
camp  and  implore  his  pardon.     He  was  exceedingly 

[59] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


penitent  and  tendered  his  sceptre  to  the  King,  saying 
that  he  had  forfeited  any  right  to  hold  it  longer. 
Charlemagne  invested  Thassilo  with  the  dukedom 
in  fee  and  took  hostages  from  him,  among  them  his 
son,  Theudo. 

Delighted  that  he  had  escaped  this  danger,  Thas- 
silo went  to  Regensburg  and  Charlemagne  returned 
home.  But  Thassilo  had  hardly  come  under  his 
wife's  influence  again  when  he  violated  his  promise 
and  resumed  his  hostile  machinations.  He  sum- 
moned the  leaders  of  his  people  to  Regensburg,  de- 
nounced his  royal  cousin,  reviled  him,  and  openly 
declared  he  would  not  respect  a  compulsory  promise 
even  if  it  cost  him  ten  sons.  The  foolish  Duke  did 
not  realize  how  contemptible  he  made  himself  by 
his  conduct  in  the  eyes  of  all  honest  men.  He 
renewed  negotiations  with  the  Avars  and  induced 
them  to  join  him.  One  division  of  the  barbarians 
was  led  by  Thassilo  through  Bavarian  territory  into 
the  Prankish  kingdom,  and  a  second  into  Italy;  but 
both  armies  were  defeated  by  Carl,  who  was  sent 
against  them  by  the  King. 

Justice  at  last  overtook  Thassilo.  He  was  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  Parliament  at  Ingel- 
heim.  The  defeat  of  the  Avars  had  so  completely 
demoralized  him  that  he  did  not  dare  to  disobey 

[60] 


THASSILO    AND    THE    AVARS 

the  summons.  He  failed  to  clear  himself  from  the 
charge  of  treason.  His  own  followers  testified 
against  him.  The  indictment  against  him  which 
called  for  the  severest  penalty  was  based  upon  this 
article  in  the  Prankish  statutes:  "Whoever  shall 
fail  to  keep  faith  with  the  kingdom,  whoever  shall 
break  his  vows  to  the  King,  whoever  shall  ally  him- 
self with  the  enemies  of  the  kingdom,  shall  forfeit 
his  life."  The  death  penalty  was  unanimously  pro- 
nounced. Charlemagne  asked  him  what  he  would 
do  if  his  life  were  spared;  whereupon  Thassilo,  as  a 
proof  of  his  repentance,  agreed  to  spend  the  rest  of 
his  days  in  a  monastery,  received  the  tonsure  at  St. 
Goar,  and  was  sent  from  there  to  Fulda.^  Charle- 
magne declared  his  ducal  title  extinguished,  assigned 
Prankish  counts  to  the  districts  of  Bavaria,  and  in- 
corporated it  in  the  Prankish  kingdom. 

The  year  790  was  one  long  remembered  by  the 
Pranks,  for  it  was  the  only  peaceable  year  in  Charle- 
magne's long  reign.  Preparations,  however,  had  to  be 
made  to  punish  the  Avars  and  prevent  raids  in  future. 

The  Avars,  living  between  the  Enns  ^  and  the 
Sau,^  were  of  Hunnish  stock,  for  which  reason  they 

^  A  bishopric  of  the  old  German  Empire  containing  the  abbey  of  Fulda. 
'  The  River  Enns  separates  Upper  and  Lower  Austria. 
'The  River  Sau  or  Save  is  one  of  the  principal  tributaries  of  the 
Danube,  and  joins  that  river  at  Belgrade. 

[61] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


are  sometimes  called  Huns  in  the  old  chronicle. 
They  inherited  not  only  the  pillaging  habits  of  their 
ancestors,  who  swept  over  Germany  like  a  deluge 
in  the  fifth  century,  but  the  almost  countless  treas- 
ures, or  a  considerable  part  of  the  treasure,  which 
their  fathers  had  stolen.  The  defences  which  they 
built  on  their  frontiers  were  of  a  peculiar  kind.  They 
were  called  "rings";  each  one  of  them  was  sufficiently 
large  to  enclose  a  number  of  villages,  and  consisted 
of  strong  walls,  ten  feet  high  and  as  many  wide,  con- 
structed of  tree-trunks  and  rocks  cemented  together 
and  surmounted  by  densely  planted  thorn  bushes. 
Behind  such  walls,  the  Avars  thought  they  were  se- 
cure against  any  enemy;  but  they  were  soon  to  learn 
their  mistake. 

Charlemagne  reviewed  his  forces  at  Regensburg 
before  entering  upon  his  campaign.  Upon  this 
occasion  he  buckled  a  sword  around  his  third  son 
Ludwig,  then  thirteen  years  of  age,  who  was  to  take 
part  in  the  expedition.  He  moved  along  both  banks 
of  the  Danube  in  an  easterly  direction,  while  Pepin 
made  his  advance  from  Italy.  The  Khan  of  the 
Avars  attacked  the  latter  and  was  defeated  in  a 
bloody  battle.  When  Charlemagne  reached  the 
Enns  he  heard  the  news  and  invaded  the  enemy's 
country    at   once.     Several    rings    were    carried    by 

[62] 


THASSILO    AND    THE    AVARS 

storm,  the  contents  of  the  treasure  vaults  removed, 
the  villages  devastated,  and  large  numbers  of  pris- 
oners were  taken.  A  sickness  which  broke  out 
among  the  army  horses  forced  the  King  to  retire 
sooner  then  he  had  intended.  The  war,  however, 
lasted  some  years  longer  before  the  enemy  was  en- 
tirely subjugated.  The  decisive  battle  occurred  in 
the  year  796.  The  rings  which  Pepin  had  recon- 
structed, as  well  as  those  which  remained  in  posses- 
sion of  the  enemy  after  the  first  expedition,  were 
taken  by  assault.  Wien  ^  was  one  of  the  principal 
localities  occupied  by  the  Avars.  Charlemagne 
made  the  Avar  country  the  Oestmark  of  the  king- 
dom, subsequently  called  Oesterrichi  and  at  a  later 
period  Oesterreich.^ 

^  The  modern  Vienna. 

*  When  Charlemagne  expelled  the  Avars  he  made  the  district  between 
the  Enns  and  the  Wienerwald  the  boundary  of  the  Kingdom.  "Oest- 
mark" signifies  "East  mark"  or  limit,  and  "Oesterreich"  means  Austria. 


[63] 


Chapter    VII 
The  Coronation  at  Rome 


POPE  HADRIAN  died  at  the  close  of  the  year 
795.  Charlemagne  was  so  overcome  by  the 
death  of  the  venerable  prelate  that  he  shed 
tears  when  the  sad  news  was  told  him.  Hadrian  had 
looked  upon  him  as  the  defender  of  the  Church; 
and  in  his  relations  to  the  King  there  was  not  a 
trace  of  that  ambition  which  characterized  later 
Popes,  to  the  detriment  of  Christianity. 

Hadrian's  successor,  Leo  the  Third,  hastened  to 
ingratiate  himself  with  Charlemagne.  He  notified 
the  King  of  his  election  and  sent  him  a  consecrated 
silver  key  as  a  symbol  of  his  recognition  of  Charle- 
magne, both  as  the  ruler  of  Roman  territory  and  as 
a  world  sovereign. 

It  is  of  importance  to  understand  the  relations 
existing  between  Charlemagne  and  the  Popes,  for 
they  were  very  different  from  those  which  existed 
between  the  later  Popes  and  the  German  rulers.  A 
letter  of  congratulation  sent  to  Leo  by  Charlemagne 
throws  some  light  upon  them.     It  begins: 

[64] 


CORONATION    AT    ROME 

"We  have  read  the  letter  from  Your  Highness  and 
listened  to  the  decretals,  and  we  heartily  congratu- 
late you  upon  your  unanimous  election,  the  dutiful 
obedience  of  your  people,  and  your  promises  of 
loyalty  to  us." 

During  the  next  few  years  there  were  outbreaks 
in  Saxony  and  Spain.  Wittekind  and  Albion  re- 
mained faithful  to  their  promises;  but  not  so  some 
of  their  people.  The  disturbances,  however,  were 
quelled  without  much  difficulty.  The  Moors  in 
Spain,  also,  who  had  gained  some  advantages,  were 
speedily  overcome. 

In  the  year  799  an  assault  was  made  upon  Pope  Leo 
during  a  street  procession.  It  was  badly  managed, 
however.  The  leaders  of  the  mob  had  planned  to 
blind  the  Pope  and  cut  out  his  tongue,  but  they 
only  succeeded  in  cutting  him  in  the  face.  The 
Pope's  friends  rescued  him  and  conducted  him  to 
a  safe  place  of  concealment.  The  clerical  officials, 
Paschal  and  Campulus,  relatives  of  Hadrian,  who  were 
in  attendance  upon  Leo,  had  been  requested  by  the 
Pope  not  to  officiate  during  the  procession.  He  little 
dreamed  of  their  treachery,  for  they  were  the  abettors 
of  the  assault.  The  Duke  of  Spoleto,  being  informed 
of  the  outrage,  proceeded  at  once  to  Rome  with  armed 
followers  and  escorted  Leo  to  one  of  his  castles. 

[65] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


As  soon  as  his  wounds  healed,  Leo  betook  himself 
to  Germany  personally  to  implore  Charlemagne's 
assistance.  At  Nuremberg  he  learned  that  the  King 
was  holding  court  at  Paderborn,  and  thither  he 
hastened.  Before  he  could  reach  the  city,  news  of 
his  approach  was  conveyed  to  the  King,  who  at  once 
began  preparations  to  give  him  an  honorable  recep- 
tion. He  sent  Archbishop  Hildebrand  and  Count 
Auschar  to  meet  him,  but  this  was  only  the  begin- 
ning of  the  ceremonies  he  had  arranged.  As  Leo 
neared  the  city,  a  troop  of  cavalry  went  out  to 
escort  him.  The  King's  son,  Pepin,  greeted  him  and 
conducted  him  to  the  plaza,  where  Charlemagne  sat 
upon  the  throne  in  royal  state  in  the  midst  of  his 
dignitaries.  Rising  and  outstretching  his  arms,  the 
King  stepped  down,  embraced  the  Pope,  and  led  him 
by  the  hand  as  he  blessed  the  kneeling  people. 

On  the  following  day  Leo  related  to  the  King  the 
details  of  the  murderous  plot  against  him,  of  which 
the  scars  on  his  face  bore  evidence,  and  informed 
him  that  the  conspirators  had  sought  to  justify  their 
act  by  spreading  base  calumnies  against  him.  He 
closed  by  asking  Charlemagne's  help.  The  King 
replied  that  he  could  not  personally  accompany  him 
to  Rome,  because  of  fresh  disquiet  in  Saxony  and 
the  Spanish  Mark,  but  he  would  furnish  him  an 
[66] 


CORONATION    AT    ROME 

escort  headed  by  Frankish  chiefs,  and  promised  to 
go  to  Rome  personally  as  soon  as  possible.  When 
the  Pope's  enemies  learned  that  Charlemagne  had 
received  him,  their  courage  failed  them.  Leo  was 
greeted  with  imposing  ceremonies,  and  Paschal  and 
Campulus  were  thrown  into  prison  by  the  Franks. 

The  Saxon  and  Spanish  affairs  having  been  settled 
by  the  close  of  the  next  year  (800),  Charlemagne, 
mindful  of  his  promise,  went  to  Rome.  The  Pope 
met  him  at  Novonte  and  had  a  private  interview 
with  him,  at  which  a  memorable  event,  soon  to 
occur,  doubtless  was  discussed.  The  Pope  then  re- 
turned to  Rome  to  make  preparations  for  Charle- 
magne's reception,  and  on  December  sixth  the  King 
entered  the  city.  His  reception  was  an  imposing 
one.  The  people  welcomed  him  with  their  civic  ban- 
ners, the  air  was  rent  with  loyal  shouts,  and  the 
Pope,  surrounded  by  the  dignitaries  of  the  Church, 
met  him  in  front  of  St.  Peter's,  which  he  entered 
accompanied  by  the  music  of  the  Papal  choir.  This 
was  only  the  prelude  to  the  memorable  ceremony 
for  which  preparations  had  been  quietly  made. 
11^  Charlemagne  began  his  magisterial  duties  in  Rome 
■  by  conducting  an  inquiry  into  the  assault  upon  Leo. 
The  calumnies  were  proved  baseless;  but  as  the  Pope 
wished  personally  to  establish  his  innocence,  Charle- 

[67] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


magne  summoned  an  assembly  of  the  clerical  and 
secular  dignitaries  and  called  upon  anyone  who  had 
accusations  to  make  against  the  Pope  to  appear 
and  state  them.  No  one  appeared.  Thereupon,  to 
purify  himself  of  all  offence,  the  Pope  declared  he 
would  make  purgation  by  oath.     He  rose  and  said: 

"The  all-gracious  and  powerful  King  Charlemagne 
came  with  his  prelates  and  princes  to  investigate 
these  charges.  In  the  presence  of  all  here,  in  the 
presence  of  God  and  His  angels,  who  know  oiir  in- 
most souls,  and  in  the  presence  of  Saint  Peter,  prince 
of  the  apostles,  I,  Leo,  head  of  the  Holy  Roman 
Church,  declare  that  I  am  guiltless  of  the  charges 
made  against  me." 

He  then  passed  a  death  sentence  upon  the  con- 
spirators, but  Charlemagne  subsequently  mitigated 
the  penalty.  Paschal  and  Campulus  were  sent  to  a 
monastery  for  penance  and  their  confederates  were 
placed  under  the  ban. 

At  last  the  memorable  event  occurred  which  made 
Charlemagne  the  ruler  of  the  Christian  world.  High 
mass  was  celebrated  by  the  Pope  in  the  Vatican  on 
the  first  day  of  the  Christmas  season  in  the  year  800. 
Charlemagne,  in  the  elegant  attire  of  a  Roman  patri- 
cian, knelt  before  the  shrine  of  the  apostle  Peter. 
Suddenly  the  Pope  descended  the  altar  steps,  placed 
[68] 


CORONATION    AT    ROME 

a  golden  crown  upon  the  King's  head,  draped  him 
with  the  royal  purple,  and  in  a  loud  voice  proclaimed: 
"Long  life  and  success  to  the  pious  Charlemagne, 
sublime  and  peace-loving  Roman  Emperor  I" 

The  choirs  sang  and  the  multitude  shouted,  "Long 
live  the  divinely  crowned  Augustus  Carl,  great  and 
pious  Roman  Emperor!" 

The  anointing  of  Charlemagne  as  Roman  Emperor, 
and  of  his  son  Pepin  as  King  of  Italy,  closed  the 
ceremony. 

It  was  an  event  of  extraordinary  significance.  It 
was  not  a  mere  spectacle  or  a  comedy  planned  by 
Leo  for  purposes  of  deception,  as  some  historians 
have,  asserted.  Charlemagne  would  never  have  con- 
sented to  such  mummery;  for  he  was  a  giant  not 
only  in  body  but  in  soul,  and  was  always  swayed 
by  lofty  purpose.  He  regarded  the  ceremony  per- 
formed that  day  in  the  Vatican  as  one  of  serious 
moment.  It  is  not  conceivable  that  Pope  Leo  con- 
ferred this  extraordinary  honor  upon  his  rescuer 
merely  for  his  own  advantage.  Charlemagne  had 
always  shown  that  he  felt  he  was  called  upon  to 
exert  all  his  power  for  the  strengthening  and  exten- 
sion of  Christianity. 

It  must  be  taken  into  consideration  that  at  that 
period  hardly  a  fourth  of  Europe  had  been  con- 

[69] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


verted;  that  the  Christian  world  in  the  south  was 
threatened  by  the  Mohammedans,  in  the  north  by 
the  heathen  Normans,  and  in  the  east  by  the  Slavs 
and  other  pagans.  From  the  earliest  times  the 
Eastern  emperors  had  made  claims  upon  Italy,  and 
the  Pope  had  not  been  protected  until  Pepin  and 
Charlemagne  appeared.  Considering  these  things, 
and  the  dangerous  situation,  can  anyone  blame  Leo 
for  proclaiming  the  Prankish  King,  who  had  saved 
him  before  all  the  world,  as  the  all-powerful  cham- 
pion of  Christendom,  and  for  conferring  upon  him  a 
title  which  would  impress  all  people  as  the  com- 
memoration of  a  great  deed?  It  was  this  last  con- 
sideration which  induced  Charlemagne  to  accept  the 
title.  He  detested  all  outward  display.  Wherever 
he  went  he  wore  his  plain  military  costume,  but 
when  he  represented  the  people  upon  public  occa- 
sions he  did  not  despise  show.  He  never  under- 
estimated the  effect  of  personal  appearance  upon 
the  people,  and  he  well  knew  what  the  effect  of  this 
title  would  be.  It  was  full  of  meaning  to  the  people; 
but  its  significance  to  him  was  the  completion  of 
the  great  mission  he  had  contemplated.  As  to  the 
motives  actuating  him,  M.  Carriere  well  says: 

"Charlemagne  made  the  deeds  and  achievements  of 
his  grandfather    and    father  the   foundation   of  a  lofty 

[70] 


CORONATION    AT    ROME 

historical  work.  His  soul  was  exalted  with  the  ideal  of 
a  Roman  empire  and  Christian  German  nation.  Hence- 
forth he  devoted  all  his  energies  to  the  work  of  uniting 
the  Germans  in  one  organic  whole.  He  brought  not  only 
Bavaria,  but  Saxony  under  German  authority.  From  the 
Eider  to  the  Tiber,  from  the  Ebro  to  the  Drau,  his  author- 
ity was  absolute.  When  the  Pope  placed  the  imperial 
crown  upon  his  head,  it  was  the  symbol  of  the  work  of 
culture  the  Germans  would  carry  on  in  Rome,  and  a 
token  that  the  new  city  should  be  a  Christian  city,  repre- 
senting God's  Kingdom  on  earth." 


[71] 


Chapter   Fill 
Victories  of  Peace 


IT  seems  almost  incredible  that  a  prince  who  was 
obliged  to  undertake  so  many  and  such  pro- 
longed campaigns  —  that  against  the  Saxons 
alone  requiring  twenty-six  expeditions  —  could  have 
had  any  opportunity  to  engage  in  works  of  peace. 
The  question  must  arise  how  he  found  the  time,  or 
the  opportunity,  or  the  encouragement  for  other 
operations  than  those  of  a  warlike  nature. 

Succeeding  events  will  supply  the  answer.  From 
the  point  of  view  of  his  wars,  the  Emperor  has  been 
called  a  conqueror;  but  when  we  come  to  consider 
his  peace  achievements  and  his  creative  ability,  it 
will  be  shown  that  he  had  a  still  clearer  right  to  that 
appellation.  It  will  also  clearly  reveal  his  ideals  of 
sovereignty,  and  we  shall  recognize  the  propriety 
of  the  title  history  has  accorded  him. 

First  of  all,  let  us  consider  the  place  which  was 
the  favorite  resort  of  the  Emperor  during  the  last 
twenty  years  of  his  life.  He  lived  at  Aix-la-Chapelle 
nearly  all  the  time  when  he  was  not  in   the  field. 

[72] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

Its  gently  sloping  heights,  spurs  of  the  Eifel  and 
Ardennes,  at  that  time  densely  wooded,  enclosed 
a  fruitful  valley.  A  royal  palace  stood  there  in 
Pepin's  time;  and  even  if  Charlemagne  was  not 
born  there,  as  is  sometimes  asserted,  yet  it  is  cer- 
tain that  he  spent  the  most  of  his  boyhood  amid 
these  scenes. 

Bathing  was  one  of  his  favorite  pleasures,  and 
many  a  time  he  breasted  the  blue  waves  of  the 
Rhine.  The  warm  mineral  baths  at  Aix-la-Chapelle 
were  his  especial  delight.  There  were  also  thickly 
wooded  spots  in  the  vicinity  which  attracted  him. 
He  was  as  fond  of  hunting  as  of  bathing,  even  in 
his  last  years;  and  his  retainers,  as  well  as  his  beau- 
tiful and  buxom  daughters,  often  joined  him  in  the 
hunt,  and  chased  the  buffaloes  and  wild  boars  to 
the  clang  of  horns  and  the  baying  of  hounds.  All 
great  human  personages  excite  the  imagination  of 
those  who  come  under  their  influence;  and  the 
popular  fancy  is  fond  of  weaving  stories  about  them 
which  help  to  reveal  their  true  character.  One  of 
these  legends  concerns  the  baths  at  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

At  Charlemagne's  palace  in  Mainz  there  was  a 
bell  which  was  said  to  ring  whenever  any  danger 
was  threatened.  Charlemagne  heard  its  clang  one 
day  and   sent  a  messenger  to  ascertain  the  cause. 

[73] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


He  found  that  a  snake  had  coiled  itself  around 
the  rope  and  was  the  bell-ringer.  The  snake  led 
the  messenger  to  its  nest,  where  a  noxious  toad  was 
found  squatting  upon  the  snake's  eggs.  He  drove 
the  toad  away  and  then  informed  the  Emperor 
of  the  curious  event.  Charlemagne's  astonishment 
was  further  increased  when  the  snake  suddenly 
appeared  in  the  hall,  wriggled  along  to  his  table, 
ascended  it,  dropped  a  sparkling  jewel  which  it 
carried  in  its  jaws  into  a  wine  glass,  and  then  quickly 
disappeared.  The  magic  stone,  upon  which  swan 
and  runic  symbols  were  engraved,  had  mysterious 
properties.  Whoever  received  the  gift  became  the 
object  of  the  passionate  adoration  of  the  giver. 
Charlemagne  placed  the  stone  in  a  ring  and  sent  it 
to  his  beloved  wife  Fastrada.  Immediately  he  be- 
came more  closely  attached  to  her  than  ever  before. 
He  could  not  be  away  from  her.  When  her  death 
removed  her  from  his  side,  he  was  overcome  with 
grief.  Her  body  was  placed  in  an  open  coffin  in 
the  Cathedral,  and  the  Emperor  spent  his  time 
there  and  would  not  suffer  it  to  be  buried.  The 
people  whispered  among  themselves,  "The  Emperor's 
mind  is  affected  by  his  love  for  Fastrada.  What 
will  become  of  his  crown  and  country  if  this  grief 
continues?"     In  this  emergency  the  pious  Turpin 

[74] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

had  a  dream  which  suggested  a  method  of  deHver- 
ance.  He  rose  from  his  bed,  donned  his  clothes, 
and  hastened  to  the  Cathedral.  It  was  apparently 
empty.  Before  the  altar  there  was  a  lofty  sarcoph- 
agus, upon  which  the  Empress  rested.  Round  about 
it  upon  the  floor  lay  a  band  of  paladins  garbed 
as  penitents.  In  front  of  the  sarcophagus  stood 
the  Emperor  weeping,  with  his  head  resting  upon 
the  coffin.  Turpin  ascended  the  steps.  He  gently 
raised  Fastrada's  ermine  covering,  seized  the  hand 
so  long  cold,  and  quietly  removed  the  ring;  where- 
upon the  paladins,  who  had  been  kneeling  in  prayer, 
looked  about  in  astonishment.  The  Emperor  lifted 
his  head  and  addressed  them.  "How  long  have  we 
mourned.'*  Too  long,  surely!  Where  is  my  chan- 
cellor .f*  It  seems  to  me  my  people  are  calling.  Let 
the  Empress  be  buried  in  the  earth,  never  to  be 
forgotten." 

The  magic  swan  ring  now  exerted  its  influence 
in  a  new  way.  The  Emperor  became  devotedly 
attached  to  the  prelate,  and  the  latter  was  troubled 
over  its  demoralizing  influence.  He  went  to  Aix- 
la-Chapelle,  followed  by  the  Emperor,  and  threw  the 
ring  into  a  quiet  forest  lake  made  by  the  warm 
springs.  From  that  time  the  place  became  the  fa- 
vorite resort  of  the  Emperor.     He  erected  a  castle  in 

[75] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


the  midst  of  the  lake,  in  which  he  often  meditated 
upon  the  frailty  of  earthly  things.  He  took  delight 
in  bathing  in  the  waters  in  whose  depths  the  swan 
ring,  taken  from  the  hand  of  his  beloved,  rested 
without  his  knowledge. 

At  Aix-la-Chapelle  he  also  built  a  majestic  palace, 
surrounded  by  a  broad  columned  portico,  which  was 
a  marvel  of  architecture  at  that  time.  Rome  and 
Ravenna  furnished  the  columns,  the  marble  blocks, 
and  the  mosaic  work,  and  the  best  architects  were 
sent  there  by  the  Pope.  Around  it  were  buildings 
for  the  schools,  court  attendants,  and  bodyguards; 
farther  away,  a  cloister  and  farmhouses;  and  still 
farther  off  a  tall  structure  built  over  the  warm  baths 
and  capable  of  accommodating  hundreds.  The  most 
majestic  building  of  all  was  a  minster  connected 
with  the  palace  by  a  pillared  passageway,  the  dome 
of  which,  supported  by  tall  columns,  was  adorned 
with  a  representation  of  Christ  and  the  four-and- 
twenty  elders  of  the  Apocalypse  in  mosaic  upon  a 
gold  background,  the  altars  glistening  with  gold  and 
silver  ornaments. 

Everything  was  carried  out  according  to  the  plans 
of  the  Emperor;  and  even  when  he  was  in  the  field 
the  work  went  on.  He  devoted  himself  assiduously 
to  all  sacred  matters.     In  the  early  morning  hours 

[76] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

he  might  be  seen  passing  along  the  portico  to  the 
church  to  meditate  and  strengthen  himself  for  his 
official  duties,  and  at  evening  he  returned  for  the 
same  high  purpose. 

Those  who  attended  this  hero  of  the  spiritual 
when  the  times  were  opportune  for  deeds  of  peace 
often  accompanied  the  hero  of  the  sword  upon  his 
expeditions.  During  his  first  Lombard  campaign  he 
became  acquainted  with  the  pious  and  learned  Anglo- 
Saxon  prelate,  Alcuin,^  and  took  him  with  him  that 
he  might  have  the  advantage  of  his  counsels  and 
teaching.  Charlemagne,  like  all  princes'  sons  in 
those  days,  had  enjoyed  but  little  instruction  up  to 
the  time  he  assumed  the  sovereignty.  His  native 
ability  helped  him  over  many  hard  places,  but  that 
same  ability  inspired  him  with  a  passionate  desire  to 
avail  himself  of  the  treasures  of  knowledge.  The 
great  Emperor  sat,  a  willing  scholar,  at  the  feet  of 
his  teacher  Alcuin,  whom  Guizot  thus  describes: 

"Alcuin  was  very  well  versed  in  Antonius  and  Hier- 
onymus  and  was  familiar  with  Pythagoras,  Aristotle, 
Aristippus,  Diogenes,  Plato,  Homer,  Virgil,  Seneca,  and 

1  Alcuin,  the  prelate  and  scholar,  was  born  at  York,  England,  in  735, 
and  died  at  Tours  in  804.  He  was  master  of  the  school  of  the  palace 
and  general  superintendent  of  all  Charlemagne's  educational  reforms. 
He  was  an  authority  on  theology,  history,  grammar,  rhetoric;  he  revised 
the  Vulgate,  and  was  also  a  poet. 

[77] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Pliny.  His  writings  were  chiefly  theological,  but  he  had 
also  done  much  of  importance  in  mathematics,  astronomy, 
dialectics,  and  rhetoric.  This  man  was  the  light  of  the 
Church  in  his  day  and  was  also  a  classical  scholar." 

Other  members  of  the  scholarly  circle  at  his  court 
were  Angilbert,  Eginhard,  Theodulph,  Peter  of  Pisa, 
and  the  Lombard  historian  Paulus  Warnefrled.  The 
last,  as  already  has  been  stated,  had  been  condemned 
to  death  for  inciting  revolt  in  his  country,  but  was 
pardoned  by  Charlemagne,  who  subsequently  con- 
ferred many  honors  upon  him.  How  highly  Charle- 
magne esteemed  art  and  science  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  he  attended  the  sessions  of  the  academy  and  was 
recognized  as  an  equal  among  its  members.  He 
would  not  allow  court  ceremonials  to  be  conducted 
In  halls  devoted  to  the  service  of  science.  In  order 
to  preserve  and  foster  the  culture  of  former  times, 
the  members  at  his  request  took  the  names  of  famous 
ancients.  Alculn  was  called  Horace;  Eginhard,  Cal- 
lippus;  Angilbert,  Homer;  Theodulph,  Pindar;  and 
Charlemagne  —  the  hero,  champion  of  the  Church, 
and  lover  of  the  lyre — was  unanimously  called  David. 

Charlemagne  was  endowed  with  extraordinary 
natural  gifts  of  language;  his  studies,  which  he  pur- 
sued at  night,  both  at  home  and  in  the  field,  enabled 
him  in  an  exceedingly  short  time  to  converse  as 

[78] 


UIARLEMAGNE 

and  Alcuin 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

fluently  in  Latin  as  in  his  mother  tongue.  He 
studied  the  works  of  the  great  Roman  historians, 
Julius  Caesar,  Sallust,  Livy,  Tacitus,  and  others; 
and  besides  this,  during  his  Roman  expeditions,  he 
had  viewed  the  scenes  of  the  exploits  described  by 
them  and  the  ruins  of  ancient  stateliness.  The 
Grecian  world  also  had  revealed  to  him  the  brilliant 
culture  of  the  great  men  of  that  country.  He  was 
so  well  acquainted  with  the  Greek  language  that  he 
could  read  the  literature  in  the  original,  which  dis- 
closed to  him  visions  of  the  beauty  of  that  Eden. 
Rome  stood  high  in  his  estimation,  but  Athens 
higher;  and  higher  than  either  Rome  or  Athens, 
Jerusalem,  as  the  source  of  those  sacred  teachings 
which  are  to  humanity  what  the  sun  is  to  the  earth 
—  light-diff'user  and  inspiration  of  newly  created  life. 
He  never  wandered  from  the  true  path,  whose  course 
is  so  often  confused  by  mistaken  teachers  even  to  this 
day.  With  unwavering  faith  he  anticipated  the  com- 
plete victory  of  the  light  and  was  ready  at  all  times 
to  serve  the  sacred  cause  with  all  his  energy.  He 
often  manifested  his  sincere  interest  in  the  Academy. 
He  ardently  longed  to  create  a  new  Athens  at  Aix- 
la-Chapelle  by  his  own  efforts,  assisted  by  his  friends, 
and  to  make  this  new  Athens  the  centre  of  a  Chris- 
tian spirit  which  should  be  a  light  to  all  the  nations. 

[79] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


He  founded  training  schools  and  schools  for  youth. 
He  organized  a  school  at  the  court  for  the  sons  of 
his  generals  and  officials.  He  supervised  every  de- 
tail, so  that  there  should  be  no  question  of  their  suc- 
cess, and  invited  the  assistance  of  others.  The  great 
Emperor  was  not  ashamed  to  avail  himself  of  the 
critical  knowledge  acquired  by  the  results  of  educa- 
tion. The  chronicles  of  Saint  Gall  contain  the  fol- 
lowing interesting  instance  of  this:  — 

It  happened  that  the  sons  of  those  of  the  middle 
and  lower  classes  exhibited  results  which  surpassed 
all  his  expectations,  and  that  the  sons  of  people  of 
the  higher  classes  handed  in  wretched  and  bungling 
compositions.  Imitating  the  example  of  the  highest 
Judge,  Charlemagne  placed  the  industrious  ones  on 
his  right  and  said  to  them:  "I  praise  you,  my 
children,  for  the  zeal  with  which  you  have  carried 
out  my  instructions  and  because  you  have  done 
your  best  according  to  your  ability.  Continue  striv- 
ing to  accomplish  still  more  that  you  may  not  fail 
to  meet  my  expectations  and  to  have  my  constant 
care."  Then  he  turned  his  reproachful  gaze  upon 
those  at  his  left  and  hurled  these  words  at  them: 
"Why  is  it  that  you,  sons  of  noblemen,  puppets 
upon  whom  have  been  showered  all  the  gifts  of  birth 
and  wealth,  have  not  respected  my  orders  and  rec- 

[80] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

ognized  my  solicitude  for  your  reputation?  You 
have  slighted  me  and  devoted  yourselves  to  effem- 
inate habits,  sports,  frivolity,  and  disgraceful 
actions."  Raising  his  arm,  he  shouted:  "By 
Heaven,  there  are  other  things  more  worthy  than 
these.  Your  birth  and  rank  count  for  little  with 
me.  Listen!  If  you  do  not  hasten  to  atone  for 
your  neglect  by  increased  industry,  you  will  never 
again  enjoy  my  favor." 

He  who  would  achieve  greatness  in  the  short  span 
of  life  must  improve  every  moment  of  time.  Even 
while  dressing,  Charlemagne  busied  himself  with 
state  affairs,  heard  complaints,  held  receptions,  and 
made  decisions.  When  he  could  not  sleep  at  night 
he  spent  much  time  reading  and  writing.  One  may 
ask  why  a  man  who  understood  Greek  and  Latin 
and  was  so  well  versed  in  classic  literature  should 
have  practised  writing.  The  question  has  given  rise 
to  many  conjectures  Very  little  attention  was  paid 
to  writing  in  those  days.  It  was  mainly  confined  to 
the  copying  of  the  letters  in  the  sumptuous  editions 
then  in  use.  The  books  with  their  costly  gold  and 
silver  covers,  set  with  precious  stones,  were  genuine 
works  of  art.     Guizot  says: 

"With  few  books  and  still  less  paper,  writing  was  a 
luxury  as  well  as  a  gift.     Nearly  all  instruction  was  oral, 

[8i] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


and  writing  was  not  depended  upon  in  study.  It  is 
true  Charlemagne  did  not  need  to  economize  in  paper; 
but  his  teachers  had  accustomed  themselves  to  instruct 
their  pupils  with  extracts  and  selections,  which  were 
committed  to  memory  and  not  written  upon  tablets. 
They  did  not  expect  great  elaboration  of  detail  from 
their  scholars  and  brought  their  studies  to  a  close  without 
practising  the  art  which  with  us  is  considered  the  be- 
ginning. The  writing  and  preparation  of  diplomas  was 
the  work  of  expert  secretaries." 

As  Charlemagne  had  acquired  the  art  of  writing 
he  thus  surpassed  the  princes  and  notables  of  his 
time  in  this  also. 

The  Emperor  took  special  pains  at  meals  that 
while  the  body  was  nourished  the  soul  and  mind 
should  not  be  neglected.  He  was  fond  of  pleasant 
entertainment,  and  if  conversation  was  not  so  in- 
teresting as  he  wished,  the  chaplain  would  read  from 
some  good  book.  As  gormandizing  was  distasteful 
to  him,  the  dinner  consisted  of  only  four  courses, 
something  unheard-of  in  court  life  at  that  time.  He 
drank  but  three  times  at  table,  and  regarded  drunk- 
enness as  a  vice.  He  was  delighted  beyond  measure 
when  surrounded  by  his  own  family,  something  he 
rarely  enjoyed  because  of  his  many  campaigns. 

An  extraordinarily  tender  relation  existed  between 

[82] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

Angilbert,  who  bore  the  academic  name  of  Homer, 
and  Charlemagne's  beautiful  daughter  Bertha.  Upon 
one  occasion  they  sat  engaged  in  pleasant  conversa- 
tion without  noticing  that  night  was  approaching. 
What  might  have  happened  if  the  Emperor  had  been 
aware  of  this  it  is  difficult  to  conjecture.  The  hours 
passed  swiftly  and  daybreak  drew  near.  It  was  not 
a  Romeo  and  Juliet  morning  of  lark  and  nightingale 
greetings  to  the  sun,  but  a  cold  winter  morning  with 
freshly  fallen  snow  on  the  ground.  How  was  Angil- 
bert to  get  away  without  leaving  accusing  footprints 
in  the  snow.^  At  this  juncture,  Charlemagne,  who 
had  risen  early,  went  to  the  window  and  beheld  his 
loved  daughter  Bertha  carrying  Angilbert  on  her 
back  through  the  snow,  after  which  she  returned  to 
her  chamber.  Charlemagne  kept  silent  about  the 
escapade,  and  it  was  not  until  some  time  afterwards 
that  he  confided  to  his  friend  what  he  had  seen  that 
night. 

It  was  devout  piety  that  induced  Charlemagne  to 
build  the  stately  Cathedral.  The  music  of  the  Italian 
masters  was  heard  there  for  the  first  time,  and  the  art 
of  song  was  fostered  by  his  chapel.  The  German 
language  was  employed  there  for  the  first  time  in 
divine  service,  much  to  the  surprise  of  the  Franks. 
The  peal  of  the  organ  which  Harun-al-Rashid  pre- 

[83] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


sented  to  the  Emperor  was  also  first  heard  there. 
The  chronicles  of  Saint  Gall,  to  which  we  are 
indebted  for  so  much  interesting  information  con- 
cerning Charlemagne,  relate  that  "the  wonderful 
instrument,  by  the  aid  of  its  metal  action  and 
leathern  bellows,  filled  the  air  with  resonant  thunder 
and  anon  with  the  soft  tones  of  the  lyre,  as  if  worked 
by  magic." 

Wood  and  stone,  music,  tapers,  and  incense,  how- 
ever, are  of  little  account  by  themselves.  Indeed 
they  sometimes  prove  detrimental  to  the  service, 
which  should  be  the  worship  of  God  in  spirit  and 
in  truth.  There  had  been  much  pomp  in  the  ser- 
vice before  the  time  of  Charlemagne.  Indeed,  the 
churches  vied  with  each  other  in  religious  spectacles, 
and  there  was  very  little  change  in  these  matters 
among  the  clericals  or  laity  in  his  time.  When  the 
clericals  had  finished  their  churchly  duties  they 
sought  relief  from  their  exertions  in  worldly  pleas- 
ures. They  were  often  seen  in  courtly  attire  en- 
gaged in  hunting,  in  military  exercises,  or  riding  to 
banquets.  It  was  irksome  to  bishops  and  abbes 
when  they  had  to  be  satisfied  with  such  a  table  as 
Charlemagne  set  forth.  He  was  determined  from 
the  very  first  that  there  should  be  a  radical  change 
in  church  observances,  and  that  the  first  step  should 

[84] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

be  the  establishment  of  higher  standards  in  the 
behavior  of  clericals,  and  the  suppression  of  cove- 
tousness,  vanity,  and  personal  show  among  them. 
He  sternly  rebuked  a  bishop  who  had  provided  him- 
self a  golden  crozier  set  with  pearls  and  precious 
stones.  "We  expect  our  pastors  to  bear  the  cross 
of  Christ,"  he  told  him,  "but  they  abandon  their 
poor  sheep  and  seek  to  vie  with  kings  and  emperors 
in  splendor  and  majesty."  He  also  required  them 
to  evince  a  spirit  of  reverence  in  all  their  actions. 

He  assigned  a  young  priest,  who  came  to  him 
highly  recommended,  to  an  important  position. 
Thereupon  the  priest  mounted  his  horse  which  was 
standing  waiting  for  him  and  would  have  hurried 
away  to  the  hunt.  Charlemagne  called  him  back 
and  said:  "Forsooth,  I  observe  that  you  are  far  too 
active  for  a  priest.  It  will  be  better,  therefore,  for 
you  to  follow  me  in  my  campaigns  as  a  soldier,  for 
the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  much  disturbed  by  these 
storms  of  war." 

The  clericals  often  accompanied  him,  not  for 
fighting,  but  to  render  spiritual  help  whenever  it 
was  needed.  Certain  monks  who  had  distinguished 
themselves  by  works  of  mercy  and  the  transcribing 
of  useful  books  were  allowed  the  privilege  of  hunt- 
ing as   exceptions,  because  he  thought  they  might 

[8s] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


strengthen  themselves  and  at  the  same  time  secure 
skins  for  book  covers,  girdles,  and  gloves. 

Charlemagne  labored  incessantly  for  the  highest 
interests  of  Church  and  State.  He  held  two  annual 
assemblies,  one  military  and  the  other  of  a  delibera- 
tive nature,  in  which  these  interests  were  discussed. 
It  is  surprising  to  find  that  he  held  forty-two  synods 
for  that  part  of  the  Empire  alone,  in  which  church 
matters  were  regulated  and  educational  questions 
settled.  He  issued  four  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
edicts  appertaining  to  the  subjects  contained  in  the 
famous  "Capitularies,"  besides  six  hundred  and 
seventy-four  of  a  political  character.  Although 
many  of  these  are  not  applicable  to  modern  condi- 
tions, it  must  be  remembered  that  one  time  is  not 
all  time;  that  the  wisdom  of  the  lawgiver  must  be 
measured  by  the  conditions  of  those  for  whom  laws 
are  made;  and  that  results  must  be  decided  upon 
their  merits  or  demerits.  All  his  contemporaries 
are  agreed  that  his  laws  resulted  in  great  benefit 
for  the  Empire. 

It  often  happened  in  these  assemblies  that  when 
the  decisions  of  famous  men  in  the  olden  times 
were  considered,  a  feeling  of  doubt  would  seize  upon 
Charlemagne.  Upon  one  such  occasion  he  declared; 
"Oh  that  I  had  twelve  such  learned  advisers  as 
[86] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

Hieronymus  and  Augustine  were ! "  To  which  Alcuin 
replied:  "The  ruler  of  heaven  and  earth  did  not  have 
any,  and  you  are  longing  for  twelve  of  them." 

Charlemagne  retired  to  rest  burdened  with  care, 
but  awoke  with  fresh  hope  and  new  desire  for  action. 
His  predecessors  had  made  their  first  residence  in 
Paris;  he,  German  in  body  and  soul,  much  as  he 
enjoyed  the  healthiness  of  Roman  life,  left  for  the 
banks  of  the  Rhine,  and,  as  has  been  related,  selected 
Aix-la-Chapelle  as  his  residence  in  his  latter  days. 
There  was  not  a  detail  of  public  administration  which 
escaped  his  attention  or  upon  which  he  did  not 
expend  his  extraordinary  creative  ability.  When  it 
was  necessary  he  sat  in  majesty  upon  his  throne. 
In  the  academy  he  devoted  himself  with  no  less 
assiduity  to  the  promotion  of  great  truths.  Indeed, 
it  is  difficult  to  say  in  what  capacity  he  most  excelled 
—  as  a  war  hero,  lawgiver,  judge,  or  teacher.  Those 
who  saw  him  in  plain  attire  upon  one  or  other  of  the 
royal  estates,  directing  and  disposing,  might  well 
imagine  that  the  great  Charlemagne  perfectly  filled 
the  role  of  farmer. 

Under  Charlemagne's  management  the  crown 
possessions  became  models  of  husbandry.  Nothing 
escaped  his  attention,  and  whatever  he  planned  was 
successful.     The  stewards  received  lists  containing 

[87] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


the  names  of  species  of  corn,  kitchen  herbs,  fruit 
trees,  medical  simples,  which  were  to  be  planted, 
cultivated,  and  looked  after  in  field  and  garden.  He 
ordered  poultry,  geese,  and  doves  to  be  kept  at  the 
mills  so  that  the  superfluous  grain  should  not  be 
wasted.  He  laid  out  fish-ponds,  constructed  apiaries, 
planted  noble  vineyards,  and  introduced  improved 
methods  of  wine-making.  Nor  did  he  confine  him- 
self to  the  strictly  useful.  He  arranged  for  the 
keeping  of  pheasants  and  peacocks.  He  cultivated 
great  quantities  of  flowers  in  the  beautiful  pleasure 
gardens.  He  employed  gardeners,  fish-masters,  and 
bee-keepers.  He  arranged  to  have  experts  in  the 
making  of  butter  and  cheese  teach  the  people.  Upon 
the  crown  estates  as  well  as  upon  others,  wolf- 
hunters  were  posted,  who  had  to  deliver  annually  a 
certain  number  of  skins  or  suff'er  a  penalty.  What- 
ever produce  from  the  crown  property  was  unneces- 
sary for  use  at  the  court  was  sold,  and  a  yearly 
account  of  it  was  kept.  The  supervision  of  the 
house  stewards  extended  to  the  slightest  detail. 
Charlemagne  was  far  from  avaricious.  His  house- 
hold never  suffered  for  lack  of  anything.  When- 
ever corn  was  disposed  of  he  arranged  to  sell  the 
measure  about  a  denier  below  the  ordinary  price. 
He  had  the  highest  sense  of  order  in  the  manage- 
[88] 


VICTORIES    OF    PEACE 

ment  of  affairs,  and  looked  upon  disorder,  whether 
in  the  State,  the  family,  or  intellectual  matters,  as 
conducive  to  disastrous  results.  He  did  not  live 
upon  the  fat  of  the  land,  but  upon  the  abundance 
from  his  own  estates. 

Let  us  consider  the  conditions  of  industry  and 
business  in  Charlemagne's  Empire.  His  wars  were 
in  no  wise  detrimental  to  material  prosperity.  Ar- 
row, missile,  and  helmet  makers,  as  well  as  sword 
and  bow  and  bullet  makers,  were  in  demand.  At 
the  royal  palaces  there  were  blacksmiths,  armorers, 
gold  and  silver  smiths,  shoemakers,  tailors,  millers, 
turners,  masons,  wheelwrights,  builders,  brass- 
workers,  tanners,  soap-boilers,  fowlers,  potters, 
bakers,  joiners,  saddlers,  net-weavers,  coopers,  ar- 
chitects, glass-blowers,  parchment  makers,  painters, 
and  dyers.  After  Charlemagne's  order  that  monks 
who  failed  in  studies  should  make  themselves  useful 
as  handworkers,  there  was  an  active  emulation  among 
all  the  artisans  employed  at  the  palaces,  the  monas- 
teries, and  in  the  cities.  Ferdinand  Pfalz  states  in 
his  "Scenes  in  City  Life"  that  under  Charlemagne, 
notwithstanding  his  frequent  wars,  the  cities  enjoyed 
material  prosperity: 

"The  Rhine,  Meuse,  and  Scheld  were  crowded  with 
freight  vessels;  and  at  the  landing-places,  as  at  Worms, 

[89] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


Mainz,  Cologne,  Dorstadt,  Maestricht,  Ghent,  and  Bruges, 
or  in  the  harbors  at  the  mouth  of  the  Scheld  there  were 
busy  scenes.  The  Strasburg  merchants  shipped  down 
the  Rhine  to  the  sea  and  the  Frisians  to  Worms.  The 
great  Emperor  regarded  this  expansion  of  commerce  with 
delight.  The  old  and  patched  Roman  walls  were  soon 
too  restricted  for  the  increasing  urban  populations. 
Churches  and  seats  of  the  nobility  spread  out  into  the 
suburbs,  which  eventually  had  to  be  enclosed  in  a  ring  of 
walls." 

Order  in  housekeeping  both  in  court  and  state 
affairs  Charlemagne  regarded  as  vitally  necessary  to 
sovereignty.  The  whole  Empire  was  divided  into 
districts  and  to  each  district  a  competent  official  was 
assigned,  whose  duty  it  was  to  see  that  the  Capit- 
ularies were  respected.  Special  judges  appeared 
from  time  to  time,  made  examinations,  and  reported 
to  the  Emperor.  In  deliberations  on  the  affairs  of 
the  Empire,  Charlemagne  summoned  the  leading 
feudal  owners  and  the  high  churchmen  in  May, 
which  is  the  origin  of  the  name  "Mayfield"  given 


to  these  meetings. 


[90 


Chapter  IX 
Last  Days  and  Death 


IT  is  not  remarkable  that  the  fame  of  such  a  sov- 
ereign spread  far  and  near  throughout  the  world. 
Representatives  of  all  nations  were  found  at  his 
court.  The  heathen  Avar  with  braided  frontlets,  the 
haughty  Count  of  Lombardy  in  silk  and  peacock 
feather,  the  turbaned  Arab,  the  fierce  Saxon,  the 
lithe  Anglo-Saxon,  the  Bavarian,  and  the  Frank 
mingled  with  white-robed  priest,  dark-cowled  monk, 
and  gowned  Jew.  Princes  of  Asia  and  Africa  con- 
tended for  the  favor  of  the  great  Western  Emperor, 
among  them  Harun-al-Rashid  ("Aaron  the  Just"), 
Mohammedan  caliph  of  Asia.  Charlemagne  had  sent 
an  embassy  to  this  powerful  prince,  who  ruled  at 
the  marvellous  city  of  Bagdad,  asking  him  to  extend 
his  protection  to  Western  Christian  pilgrims  in  Jeru- 
salem. Harun  graciously  acceded  to  this  request. 
He  sent  Charlemagne  the  banner  of  Jerusalem  and 
the  keys  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre  as  a  symbol  of  his 
sovereignty  over  that  city.  These  gifts  were  fol- 
lowed   by    others,    costly    gold-embroidered    silken 

[91] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


stuffs,  frankincense,  balsam,  and  spices,  also  monkeys 
and  an  elephant.  The  chronicles  state  that  in  re- 
turn Charlemagne  sent  him  Spanish  horses  and 
mules  and  Frisian  robes,  white,  gray,  sapphire,  and 
variegated,  besides  hounds  of  the  largest  and  best 
kind  for  chasing  and  catching  lions  and  tigers. 
Charlemagne  had  a  hospital  built  in  Jerusalem  where 
needy  pilgrims  could  be  cared  for.  Ibrahim,  the 
African  prince  who  ruled  over  Mauritius,  sent  him 
a  Libyan  lion,  a  Numidian  bear,  Iberian  steel,  and 
purple  from  Tyre.  Another  gift  by  Harun  was  a 
brass  water-clock,  which  was  so  constructed  that  a 
hand  revolved  during  the  twelve  hours;  and  as  each 
was  completed,  brass  balls  falling  upon  a  metal  basin 
gave  out  a  clear  tone  announcing  the  hour. 

Charlemagne  was  at  this  time  over  sixty  years  of 
age.  His  white  hair  and  beard  added  to  his  majestic 
appearance.  His  fourth  wife  had  recently  died,  and 
he  now,  upon  suggestions  from  Rome,  considered  a 
union  with  the  Empress  Irene  of  Greece.  The  real 
nefariousness  of  this  woman  was  not  revealed  until 
later;  and  at  this  time  the  Emperor  knew  no  reason 
why  he  should  not  marry  her.  But  it  is  to  be  re- 
membered that  in  every  action  Charlemagne  con- 
ducted himself  not  as  a  private  person,  but  as  the 
ruler  of  a  great  empire.     The  only  question  which 

[921 


LAST    DAYS    AND    DEATH 

arose  in  his  mind  was  whether  such  a  union  would 
accrue  to  the  advantage  of  the  Christian  world  and 
his  own  people.  He  decided  that  it  would,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  preliminaries  of  a  settlement.  Then 
came  news  of  the  dethronement  of  Irene  and  her 
banishment  to  Lesbos  —  an  event  which  was  sub- 
sequently justified  and  which  proved  to  be  very 
fortunate  for  him. 

An  agreement  was  made  with  the  Saxons  in  the 
year  803  at  Selz  on  the  Saale,  which  secured  peace 
for  the  future.  In  consideration  of  the  restoration 
of  their  old  rights  and  customs  they  promised  to  re- 
frain from  any  resistance  to  the  spread  and  main- 
tenance of  Christianity  in  Saxony,  and  to  accept 
the  incorporation  of  their  country  as  part  of  the 
Frankish  Empire. 

In  808  the  aged  hero  again  took  the  field.  He  led 
an  expedition  against  Gottfried,  King  of  Denmark, 
who  in  years  past  had  been  so  busy  inciting  Saxon 
revolt.  But  the  Emperor's  purpose  was  not  to  ob- 
tain satisfaction  for  old  offences,  but  to  stamp  out 
new  hostilities.  The  Obotrites,  allies  of  the  Franks, 
had  been  suddenly  attacked  by  Gottfried;  Danish 
vessels  had  harried  the  German  coast;  and  the  Danes 
had  made  several  landings  and  pillaged  and  mur- 
dered.    Driven  back  by  Carl,  the  Emperor's  oldest 

[93] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


son,  Gottfried  reached  a  spot  several  miles  beyond 
the  Schley,  where  a  wall  had  been  constructed  across 
the  country,  still  known  as  the  "Danewerk."  Dur- 
ing this  expedition  the  Emperor  was  thrown  from  his 
horse,  which  caused  his  lance  to  fly  from  his  hand, 
and  his  sword  to  drop  from  his  belt.  Many  re- 
garded this  as  an  unfortunate  omen;  but  Gottfried 
and  Charlemagne  did  not  meet  on  the  field.  Gott- 
fried was  slain  by  some  of  his  own  people,  and  Hem- 
ming, his  brother  and  successor,  hastened  to  send  a 
peace  embassy  to  Charlemagne.  A  treaty  was  nego- 
tiated by  which  Denmark  renounced  all  claim  upon 
the  territory  for  which  it  had  striven,  south  of  the 
Eider,  which  was  recognized  as  the  northern  bound- 
ary of  the  Prankish  Empire. 

When  Charlemagne  returned  to  Aix-la-Chapelle 
he  was  taken  ill  for  the  first  time  in  his  life.  He  re- 
garded his  ailment,  however,  as  nothing  worse  than 
a  slight  feverish  attack,  and  resumed  his  official 
duties  in  a  few  days.  For  the  first  time  his  people 
began  to  realize  that  he  was  mortal,  and  to  ask  them- 
selves what  might  happen  to  the  Empire  if  he  were 
taken  away. 

Of  Charlemagne's  three  sons,  the  two  eldest,  Carl 
and  Pepin,  had  proved  themselves  heroes  in  the  field. 
Of  these  two,  Carl,  who  most  closely  resembled  his 

[94] 


LAST    DAYS    AND  DEATH 

father  in  face  and  figure,  was  his  favorite.  To  his 
great  disappointment,  however,  he  was  forced  to 
admit  to  himself  that  Ludwig,  the  youngest,  should 
the  emergency  occur,  would  be  unfitted  to  be  his 
successor,  and  unqualified  to  assure  the  perpetuity 
of  the  Empire.  And  what  was  this  great  Empire.^ 
It  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Eider  and  the 
Baltic,  on  the  south  by  the  Tiber  and  the  Mediter- 
ranean, on  the  east  by  the  Elbe  and  the  Raab,  and 
on  the  west  by  the  Ebro  and  the  Atlantic,  recalling 
the  extent  and  power  of  the  old  Roman  Empire  under 
Caesar  and  Augustus. 

Charlemagne  long  and  anxiously  considered  the 
situation  before  he  decided  to  call  an  assembly  of 
the  dignitaries  of  State  and  Church  and  submit  his 
plans  for  the  division  of  the  sovereignty.  These 
plans  provided  for  the  assignment  of  the  young  Carl 
to  the  principal  part  of  the  Prankish  Empire,  the 
predominating  German  nations;  Pepin  to  the  Italian, 
and  Ludwig  to  those  possessions  which  at  a  subse- 
quent period  became  the  principal  part  of  France. 

The  circle  of  those  nearest  the  heart  of  the  great 
Emperor  gradually  grew  smaller.  His  mother. 
Bertha,  had  already  been  dead  twenty  years.  This 
rare  woman,  who  in  her  will  provided  ample  chests 
of  linen  to  poor  weavers  and  spinners,  enjoyed  his 

[95] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


love  and  filial  care  to  the  very  last.  The  Academy 
still  numbered  many  excellent  scholars  in  its  member- 
ship; but  there  was  no  one  to  fill  the  place  of  that 
wise  teacher  and  close  friend,  Alcuin,  who  died  about 
this  time.  In  8io  the  Emperor's  eldest  daughter, 
Rotrud,  died.  Hardly  had  he  recovered  from  this 
blow  when  news  came  of  the  death  of  Pepin,  after  a 
brief  illness. 

Alas!  of  what  avail  are  human  plans .^  Too  often 
they  are  like  the  dust  scattered  by  the  wind.  The 
Emperor  bore  his  grief  manfully,  and  labored  with 
his  customary  devotion  in  his  affairs  of  State  and 
at  the  academy.  In  these  last  days  he  began  with 
extraordinary  enthusiasm  to  write  a  German  gram- 
mar. Unfortunately  it  was  not  finished,  and  the  only 
fragments  left  of  it  are  the  names  which  he  gave  to 
the  months  and  the  winds. 

The  next  year  (8ii)  was  not  finished  before  fresh 
tidings  of  sorrow  came.  Carl,  the  Emperor's  favor- 
ite son,  was  snatched  away  by  death  in  the  very 
prime  of  his  life,  as  his  brother  Pepin  had  been 
shortly  before.  Still  the  Emperor  wasted  no  time  in 
mourning.  He  attended  to  his  'duties  as  usual;  but 
after  this  last  blow  his  face  never  wore  a  smile  again. 

The  only  remaining  son  was  the  one  who  had 
shown  himself  the  least  capable.     What  solicitude 

[96] 


0 


TTO    THIRD 

in  the  crypt  of  Charleviagne 


LAST    DAYS    AND    DEATH 

for  the  future  of  his  race  and  Empire  must  have 
overwhelmed  the  Emperor! 

In  the  year  813  Charlemagne  summoned  the 
notables  of  the  Empire  to  an  assembly  at  Aix- 
la-Chapelle.  He  announced  to  them  that  he  had 
arranged  a  definite  settlement  of  the  boundary 
question  with  Greece,  Denmark,  and  the  Moors, 
which  gave  great  satisfaction  to  them.  Thereupon 
he  proclaimed  his  son  Ludwig  King  of  the  Franks, 
and  added  that  he  also  wished,  with  their  consent, 
to  invest  him  with  the  dignity  of  Roman  Emperor. 
They  gave  their  consent,  but  there  were  grief  in  the 
hearts  and  tears  in  the  eyes  of  many  of  them. 

Upon  the  day  fixed  for  the  coronation  Charle- 
magne appeared  in  the  Cathedral  imperially  arrayed, 
and  met  the  notables  assembled  there.  He  led  his 
son  Ludwig  to  the  altar,  where  a  throne  had  been 
placed.  After  they  had  offered  prayer  they  arose, 
and  Charlemagne  made  a  solemn  address  to  his  son 
in  which  he  bade  him  always  to  be  mindful  of  the 
duties  of  a  sovereign,  closing  with  these  words: 

"Compel  malicious  and  dangerous  disturbers  by 
force  to  live  in  an  orderly  manner  and  pursue  the 
right  way.     Be  the  consoler  and   defender  of  the ' 
cloisters  and  the  poor.     Select  only  wise,  just,  and 
firm    counsellors.     Never    remove    one    except    for 

[97] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


proper  reasons,  and  so  conduct  yourself  that  you 
may  have  no  cause  to  blush  before  God  or  man." 

When  Ludwig  had  promised  to  follow  these  coun- 
sels the  Emperor  ordered  him  to  take  the  crown  from 
the  altar  and  place  it  upon  his  head.  This  was 
done.  The  Emperor  was  a  loyal  adherent  of  the 
Church,  but  he  did  not  care  to  have  the  ceremony 
performed  by  priestly  hands,  as  he  feared  that  it 
might  open  the  way  to  future  assumptions  of  a 
dangerous  kind.  Supported  by  his  son,  the  venerable 
Emperor  thereupon  left  for  the  palace. 

Ludwig  went  temporarily  to  Aquitaine,  which  had 
been  assigned  to  him.  The  separation  between 
father  and  son  was  a  painful  one,  for  neither  felt 
that  they  should  see  each  other  again. 

The  people  were  greatly  troubled,  particularly  by 
a  remarkable  event  which  shortly  occurred  and  so 
worked  upon  the  popular  fancy  that  they  expected 
some  dire  calamity  would  follow.  The  colonnade 
connecting  the  palace  and  the  minster  was  struck 
by  lightning,  the  dome  was  injured,  and  the  last 
words  upon  the  altar,  "Carolus  princeps,"  were 
effaced.  But  Charlemagne  gave  no  attention  to  it. 
It  was  of  little  consequence  to  him. 

The  year  814  opened.  It  was  plain  to  all  that 
the  Emperor  was  growing  weaker.     On  the  twenty- 

[98] 


LAST    DAYS    AND    DEATH 

seventh  of  January  the  last  rites  were  administered 
by  Bishop  Heldebald  in  both  forms,  and  early  the 
next  day  Charlemagne  passed  away  in  the  seventy- 
second  year  of  his  age  and  the  forty-seventh  of  his 
reign,  with  the  words  "Into  Thy  hands  I  commit 
my  spirit." 

The  real  nature  of  this  calamity  is  shown  by  the 
discussion  which  took  place  as  to  the  suitable  manner 
of  the  Emperor's  interment.  He  who  had  so  long 
watched  over  the  welfare  of  the  Empire,  he  who 
had  so  often  sat  upon  his  steed  as  the  battle  hero, 
upon  his  throne  as  lawgiver,  judge,  and  counsellor, 
and  as  teacher  among  the  scholars  of  the  academy, 
should  he  now  lie  in  a  coffin.^  They  could  not 
conceive  of  it.  It  was  repugnant  to  the  sentiment 
of  all  those  whose  hearts  were  overcome  by  their 
great  loss.  After  earnest  discussion  they  decided 
upon  a  form  of  interment  which  should  reflect 
the  greatness  of  that  loss.  Seated  upon  a  marble 
throne  with  gold  adornments,  in  imperial  garb 
glistening  with  golden  bees,  the  crown  upon  his 
head,  sword  and  pilgrim's  scrip  at  his  side,  a  Testa- 
ment upon  his  knees,  and  a  fragment  of  the  Holy 
Cross  at  his  breast,  thus  was  the  dead  Emperor 
lowered  to  the  crypt  of  the  minster,  which  was  filled 
with  the  costliest  spices. 

[99] 


CHARLEMAGNE 


One  hundred  and  eighty-six  years  later,  in  the 
year  looo,  the  German  Emperor  Otto  the  Third, 
who  was  a  victim  of  melancholy,  opened  the  crypt, 
hoping  that  the  sight  of  the  great  dead  would  restore 
peace  and  rest  to  his  soul.  The  glare  of  torches 
revealed  the  majestic  figure  of  the  Emperor,  still 
sitting  upright  on  his  throne.  Otto,  however,  did 
not  find  the  rest  for  which  he  had  hoped.  Had  he 
realized  the  spirit  of  the  Emperor,  had  he  studied 
him  in  his  great  works,  perhaps  it  would  have  brought 
him  relief  and  the  fresh  incentive  to  activity  might 
have  resulted  in  more  faithful  performance  of  his 
duties  as  sovereign. 


A  century  and  a  half  later  the  crypt  was  again 
opened  by  Barbarossa,  who  ordered  that  the  precious 
remains  of  Charlemagne  should  be  placed  in  a  marble 
casket  and  buried  in  the  Cathedral. 


While  reflecting  with  reverence  upon  this  picture 
of  the  Emperor  in  the  crypt,  we  should  also  consider 
the  picture  of  the  living  Emperor,  as  revealed  in 
this  story  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage.  If  we  do  this 
in  the  right  way,  refusing  to  be  influenced  by  those 
harpies  who  pursue  all  great  and  noble  men  in  history 
that  they  may  besmirch  their  memories,  we  shall  be 
inspired  by  the  example  of  his  great  deeds  to  make  our 
own  pilgrimage  a  blessing  both  to  ourselves  and  others. 

[lOO] 


:appenl)t5 


The  following  is  a  chronological  statement  of  the 
most  important  events  in  the  life  of  Charlemagne: 

742  Birth  of  Charlemagne. 

768  Accession  to  the  throne  conjointly  with  Carloman. 

771  Death  of  Carloman. 

772  Saxon  War. 

773  War  with  the  Lombards. 

777  Mayfield  at  Paderborn. 

778  War  with  Arabs  in  Spain. 
785  Submission  of  Wittekind. 
788  Bavaria  subdued. 

800     Crowned  Emperor  at  Rome. 
808-810     Defeated  the  Danes. 
814     Death  of  Charlemagne. 
814    Accession  of  Ludwig. 


[lOl] 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

RENEWALS  ONLY— TEL.  NO.  642^405 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 

Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 

»..n»r>r>   1070   ^    *'                                                   ' 

MARSOiyni 

R- 

tjy\Ri^>  '^  ^ 

s  m 

MAR  2  n  1985 

RECCIRMAR10  1985 

1 

LD21A-60m-6,'69 
(J90968l0)476-A-32 

General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 

$ 


32 


GENERAL  LIBRARY  -  U.C.  BERKELEY 


